Statement Following The Gordon Anglesea Case

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.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​