Five women who were exploited by grooming gangs in Rotherham as children have come forward with shocking allegations that police officers in the town also sexually abused them. One woman claims she was raped by a serving South Yorkshire Police officer from the age of 12, who would threaten to hand her back to the gang if she didn’t comply. The women’s accounts, collected by Switalskis Solicitors, reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse and corruption within the police force.
The landmark Jay Report in 2014 concluded that at least 1,400 girls in Rotherham were abused by gangs of men, mainly of Pakistani heritage, between 1997 and 2013. Now, a new criminal investigation into the involvement of police officers in the Rotherham grooming scandal is underway, led by South Yorkshire Police’s major crime unit. However, Prof Alexis Jay, who led the independent inquiry into abuse in Rotherham, has expressed concerns that the investigation should be handled by an independent force or body to ensure impartiality.
The women’s testimonies describe the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of both the grooming gangs and the police officers. One woman, known as Willow, alleges that two police officers sexually abused her, including one who would repeatedly track her down and pick her up in a police car, demanding oral sex or rape. Another woman, Emma, claims she was raped by a police officer in a squat, targeting her because she was a vulnerable child in care.
The solicitors representing the women have expressed frustration that many potential witnesses have withdrawn from the investigation, citing a lack of trust in the police force. Amy Clowrey from Switalskis Solicitors says, “There has been no accountability in the town, and without accountability, there will continue to be a distrust of South Yorkshire Police.” The women’s allegations have also raised questions about the police force’s handling of previous investigations and the extent of corruption within the force.
The current investigation is being overseen by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), but former IOPC investigator Garry Harper has expressed concerns about the watchdog’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation, citing the “abject failure” of the previous Operation Linden investigation. The IOPC has assured that the current investigation is being conducted impartially, but the women’s allegations have sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency within the police force.
