Grooming gang investigations dropped by police because of potentially human error'

"Initial reviews have identified that in some cases where there has been a decision to take no further action (NFA), there were available lines of inquiry that could have been pursued. We've seen in those cases what appears to be potentially human error. We've seen in some cases that those investigations haven't followed what we would characterise as proper investigative practice, actually that would have contributed to the NFA decision. That includes, for example, lines of inquiry being identified but not being followed, victim accounts not being taken in a way that we would recognise as best practice, and suspects not being pursued or interviewed in the ways that we would anticipate."

"We are alive to it and in the event we identify it, we will adopt our standard protocol which will be liaison with the professional standards department within the force in relation to any officer who is still serving in question. It will be then for them to determine an appropriate course of action.... that might be a referral to the IOPC [Independent Office of Police Conduct]."

Operation Beaconport will review thousands of alleged child abuse cases that did not result in suspects being charged. The National Crime Agency-led review has received 1,273 referrals from 23 police forces, including 236 cases involving allegations of rape. Initial reviews have identified available lines of inquiry that were not pursued and investigative steps that did not follow proper practice, contributing to decisions of no further action. Examples include lines of inquiry identified but not followed, victim accounts not taken according to best practice, and suspects not pursued or interviewed. Identified misconduct by serving officers will be referred to professional standards and possibly to the IOPC.

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