I think we can safely say he's a sinner now

And when a saint says that we have to believe him (hi Renton )

That's what's so scary though, isn't it Soozy... these people don't go around with a neon sign above their heads saying 'paedo'   How on earth can the authorities make a decision on who's a wrong 'un.   It's not a decision I'd like to have on my conscience.

Foster parents are given very thorough checks, including CRO checks. However, the man in this case had no previous convictions.

Police have acknowledged for the first time that the late politician Sir Cyril Smith sexually and physically abused young boys in the 1960s.

Smith, who was elected MP for Rochdale in 1972, was dogged by rumours of abuse throughout his career but charges were never brought.

But both Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have now said if Smith had been accused today he would be charged and prosecuted.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: "We are now in a position to say that on three separate occasions, files were passed to first the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and then the CPS containing details of abuse committed by Smith, but on each occasion no prosecution was pursued.

"Having now reviewed those decisions, we believe that if the same evidence was presented to the CPS today there would have been a very realistic prospect that Smith would have been charged with a number of indecent assaults, and that the case would have been brought to trial.

"Clearly that is a bold statement to make but it is absolutely important for those victims who were abused by Smith that we publicly acknowledge the suffering they endured."

An investigation was carried out by Lancashire Police in the late 1960s into Smith's actions at the Cambridge House Hostel, a privately-run care home in Rochdale.

Smith served as Liberal Democrat MP

The investigating officer presented details of allegations made by eight youths to the DPP and concluded Smith had indecently assaulted young boys, but the DPP recommended no prosecution be pursued.

All the boys were either living at Cambridge House or were dependent on Smith for either employment, financial support or guardianship.

The allegations were set out in 80 pages of evidence that was supplied to the then DPP Sir Norman Skelhorn with a covering note dated 11 March 1970.

The only documentation of the decision making is a one page letter to the Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary.

It is dated 19 March, 1970, and reads: "I have considered your file and I observe that eight young men, whose ages range from nineteen to twenty-four years, allege that between 1961 and 1966 Smith subjected them to various forms of indecency and I also observe that Smith denies their allegations.

"Any charges of indecent assault founded on these allegations, as well as being somewhat stale, would be, in my view, completely without corroboration. Further, the characters of some of these young men would be likely to render their evidence suspect."

Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "The decision made in 1970 would not be made by the CPS today.

"Any victims considering coming forward should not be dissuaded by the decisions of the past."

Smith, who died in 2010, served as the Liberal and later Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale between 1972 and 1992.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "All accusations against Cyril Smith should have been investigated thoroughly with the authorities taking whatever action they thought necessary.

"Any new allegations being made should also be investigated by the police."

(Sky News)

I just read online that Patten has said the License payers will have to pay for the enquiry into the Saville/BBC scandal. Why????

Ultimately that's where the money for BBC and ITV is sourced. We pay for it all. So I'm not sure who else would pay for the inquiry.

If I may say so, it might also be about keeping the BBC in the firing line. If Monty Python was still here I'm sure that, in a fit of irony, he would be saying, "Jimmy didn't even want to interfere with people, but the BBC directed him to do so!" Remember Doug and Dinsdale?

I can vouch for the foster parent check. EVERYTHING is checked, including Police, schools attended, health issues, bank balance...i could go on and on. I can only speak for Scotland tho , but i can say with authority, very thorough . 

Unfortunately , some paedos are so clever , they slip through the net...

that's the point I was making Sky.. hope nobody thinks i was saying it was the fault of the people who vet foster parents.   I think it must be very nigh impossible to know 100% that people are beyond reproach. 

I didn't think that, Kaffy.

Not at all x As i said there are some who slip through, hopefully not many...x

thanks ladies... when I read it back I wondered if it had maybe been misinterpreted - just thought I'd clarify   

Rolf Harris arrested in connection with Savile investigation - According to the former Detective Mark Williams-Thomas, whose information is second to none, Rolf Harris is being questioned by Police in regards to the Jimmy Savile investigation.

EDIT:  He has been released without charge after being interviewed. 

Ooooooooh I'm glad - can't even tell you how disillusioned I'd have been - I always liked Rolf.

I was expecting that  

 

Friend of mine told me years ago that his best friend at school told him that his sister had said that she was abused by a friend of the family ** not that she ever reported it.(I've v carefully worded that!) 

 

Rolf Harris' 'Kids Can Say No' video was used widely in schools in the late 80s/early 90's http://www.tandfonline.com/doi...080/0300443860260111

According to Mark WT he was interviewed under caution, no way would he have tweeted that if he wasn't 100% in the know                          Mark Williams-Thomas ‏@mwilliamsthomas           

Wasn't the Rolf Harris bit purely to produce a poor punch line?

Meanwhile some ex Corrie actor has been dragged in.

I am gobsmacked at this one 

I am as well Pengy, but from what I've read this morning it says it goes back to his days as a trainee actor, so it could mean he was 16 & at college studying drama and got off with a 15 year old. Who knows?

someone tell me who then?  Oh s'ok it's on the BBC site.   

 

I thought I was going back in time when I saw that on the BBC news this morning. I do remember this chap in the news previously for alleged sexual offences.

really??? 

 

I did wonder if that is the case Cinds 

 

Yep, honestly guv'

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel will appear in court later this month to face five counts of indecent assault on a child under 16.

Merseyside Police said the 42-year-old had been charged under his real name - Andrew Watkinson.

He was charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charges relate to "historic" child sex offences, the force said.

Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, is best known for his appearance as the scheming businessman Frank Foster in the ITV1 soap.

His Corrie career began in November 2010 when he was cast as Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor.

Lancel's role ended in March this year when his character was found murdered.

Lancel also played DI Neil Manson in The Bill, and starred alongside Helen Baxendale in Cardiac Arrest.

He has been bailed to appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 19.

I'm a little tired of the "it was a different culture back then" and "she looked older" arguments.  Age of consent should mean something.

Well said squiggle

I think that's v highly unlikely, would be pretty much unheard of these days for charges to be brought between two consenting young people of that kind of age, even 'though it is technically illegal

I agree and far too often it doesn't.  I'd like to see far more prosecutions like they do in America - age of consent means something there 

reading further about it, it kinda looks like he was in his twenties and she was under 16 so there is more to this than meets the eye - my jaw is still on the floor though 

Very true don't they have 'statutory rape' for sex with underage people?

yes irrespective of whether you are a girl or boy - underage sex = statutory rape 

Stuart Hall has been taken to a police station to answer allegations of rape and indecent assault.

Good grief , is there any end to this It's gets worse and worse

Stuart Hall? I'm trying to think who he is although the name rings a bell 

OMG him from it's a knockout 

Yes. I still listen to him on 5live every weekend for the football. He's a great punter with really funny banter.

Thank Bog! If it had been the political philosopher I don 't know what I would have done.