WHILST there are far too few open and honest opinions given these days by public officials, the utterances about the police role in the Bullfinch scandal by Anthony Stansfeld border on the bizarre.
As we report today, Mr Stansfeld, our Police and Crime Commissioner, has turned his guns on Oxfordshire County Council, the NHS and schools over how long it took for the grooming, exploitation and rape of six girls in Oxford to emerge.
And he goes further, defending Thames Valley Police’s role and stating that he does not think people can be too critical of the force.
It is extraordinary stuff, especially for anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of the original Bullfinch trial and investigation.
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Some of what he says – particularly trying to claim Thames Valley recognised the problem earlier than forces investigating the Rotherham and Rochdale abuse scandals – is just not accurate.
Whilst the county council and other sectors of the community will almost certainly be criticised for some abhorrent failures by a serious case review likely to be released in the Spring, it is inconceivable the force will escape unscathed.
Evidence was heard that pointed to a cultural problem in the police service, where the abuse was effectively overlooked and the victims not believed. At the end of the first Bullfinch trial Chief Constable Sara Thornton was certainly apologetic.
None of this is consistent with what Mr Stansfeld is now claiming.
- Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfield
He is right: some agencies did not raise the alarm early enough, but there was evidence in the plain sight of some of his officers as well.
What makes this all the more extraordinary is that he is saying it now, a couple of months ahead of the release of the serious case review.
Usually ‘partner agencies’ like the police and county council close ranks and will not criticise each other, so there has to be questions over why Mr Stansfeld has chosen now to make these comments.
Either he has just blundered in without thinking or this is a pre-determined bid to try to understate the culpability of the police.
For a man in his position, Mr Stansfeld really should have known these comments were ill-chosen ahead of the review.
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