Posted: Fri 21st Oct 2016

North Wales Police Statement After Gordon Anglesea Guilty Of Historic Sex Abuse

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Friday, Oct 21st, 2016

North Wales Police have issued the following statement after former police superintendent Gordon Anglesea was found guilty over historic child sex abuse allegations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki said: “The victims in this case have waited a long time for justice and I am pleased that today they have seen this done. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It has not been an easy journey from them, it has taken courage to stand by their convictions, but I hope that they will now take some solace from seeing their abuser brought to justice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At the outset of Operation Pallial we said that all abusers of children should keep looking over their shoulder and I am satisfied that today time has caught up with Gordon Anglesea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is true to say that no occupation is immune from individuals who will exploit their position of authority and trust to abuse vulnerable victims, but people expect and deserve better from the police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am saddened that a former NWP officer was one of these individuals and I would like to apologise on behalf of the force to those whose lives he so traumatically affected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Nothing anyone can do now will change the past, but I can assure people that the way in which we now investigate sexual abuse, the investment which goes in to it and the significance it is given is considerably different to how it ways in the past. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“NWP now has the Amethyst Team which deals solely with victims of sexual abuse. They are a dedicated, highly trained team of national standing whose approach to working with victims has resulted in more people having the confidence to come forward to report crimes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Victims can be confident that they will be listened to and our multi agency approach with partners such as the local authorities and the health board, means that there are also more resources available to protect vulnerable people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The checks that we make on employees are also far more rigid than they used to be. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But, that said, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a need for vigilance – that will always remain. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank the NCA for the thorough and professional investigation they have conducted so far, but you will be aware that any new enquiries will now come to North Wales Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have full confidence in our current arrangements to listen to victims and deliver effective support, with partner agencies, and to investigate crimes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Officers from Operation Pallial will continue to deliver investigative activity for many months as they complete enquiries and assist the Crown Prosecution Service with further court cases, but all new crimes reported in North Wales will now be investigated by local officers and staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have a dedicated team in place for receiving and investigating allegations of sexual abuse. The Amethyst Team deals solely with victims, seeing them through from reporting to case conclusion. They have a track record of a high level of reporting which shows that victims have the confidence to come forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales



More from North Wales Police

North Wales chief constable celebrates reduction in burglaries

North Wales Police

Property Closed For Three Months

North Wales Police

Further Reassurance To All Communities Within North Wales

North Wales Police

Appeal Attempted Robbery Wrexham

North Wales Police

Flintshire Schools Bid Farwell To Their Officer

North Wales Police

Communities In North Wales Reassured Following Events In London

North Wales Police

Latest from News.Wales

Plans for Gin Distillery in UK’s Smallest City Expected to be Refused

Pembrokeshire Council

Householder Told “Six Foot” Fence in Garden Must Go

Torfaen Council

Young People Leaving Care in Monmouthshire Band Together to Support Peers

Monmouthshire Council

Work to Begin on New Railway Stations in and Around Newport in 2026, Welsh Government Announces

Newport Council

Welsh Councils Express Concerns Over Elimination of For-Profit Care Homes

Torfaen Council

New Conservative Councillor Elected in Pembrokeshire’s Havens Ward

Pembrokeshire Council