Cyril Smith allegations: GMP say he did abuse boys

Sir Cyril Smith

Greater Manchester Police has now assumed overall command of the investigation into allegations of sexual abuse made against the late Sir Cyril Smith.

The Force is now publicly acknowledging that young boys were victims of physical and sexual abuse committed by Smith.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police have been working very closely with colleagues at Lancashire Police over the past few weeks to pull together the precise chronology of all previous investigations carried out into Smith's alleged activities. It has taken some time for the exact details to be confirmed due to the passage of time since the original allegations were made in the late 1960s.

Three separate files regarding Sir Cyril Smith's actions were passed to first the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) although on each occasion no prosecution was pursued. 

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: "This has been a very complex inquiry and I hope people understand why it has taken some time before we were in a position to comment publicly.

"It was very important that both ourselves and Lancashire Police examined all our records very carefully so we could be certain what involvement we had in investigating allegations of sexual and physical abuse made against such a high-profile figure as Smith.

"We are now in a position to say that on three separate occasions, files were passed to first the 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. Although, Smith cannot be charged or convicted posthumously, from the overwhelming evidence we have it is right and proper we should publicly recognise that young boys were sexually and physically abused and we will offer them as much support as they need should they wish to speak to us."

A thorough investigation was carried out by Lancashire Police in the late 1960s into Sir Cyril Smith's actions at the Cambridge House Hostel, a privately-run care home in Rochdale. The investigating officer presented details of allegations made by eight youths to the DPP, and concluded Smith had indecently assaulted young boys. The DPP recommended no prosecution be pursued.

In 1998 and 1999, Greater Manchester Police passed two separate files to the CPS about Smith's activities at Cambridge House, but on both occasions no further action was recommended.

Greater Manchester Police also investigated Smith's involvement with the Knowl View Special School in Rochdale, but during this investigation no allegations of sexual abuse were made against Sir Cyril Smith.

Since the allegations have resurfaced in the media in recent weeks, two people have come forward to report historic abuse by Smith, and both are being investigated by Greater Manchester Police.

The Force is continuing to encourage anyone who was a victim to come forward.

"We need to be both realistic and frank that as Smith is no longer alive, we will not be able to bring any criminal prosecution against him," ACC Heywood said.

"We have now taken overall command of this investigation so there is no confusion whatsoever among the public: if you have a complaint, please report it to Greater Manchester Police. I would stress that if you do want to speak to someone, your information will be treated with the appropriate sensitivity and in total confidence

"If we receive any evidence that anyone was complicit in the abuse that is still alive today, we will of course investigate that thoroughly.

"Lastly, I want to add my sympathies to anyone who was a victim of sexual or physical abuse by Sir Cyril Smith. Having reviewed the full history of this case, I am satisfied that numerous attempts were made to expose his activities but for various reasons this did not happen. That will be of little comfort to the people who were brave enough to recall their traumatic experiences, but will never see justice done in court. However, I hope that by publicly acknowledging what happened 50 years ago it will give those people some sense of justice."

Anyone who does wish to speak to police can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.