CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Child Abuse linked to a belief in Witchcraft and Spirit Possession
Detective Sergeant Vicky WashingtonPartnership Team
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND2000
Anna/Victoria Climbié
‘You could beat her and she would not cry……she could take the beatings and the pain like anything.’
Victoria’s Carer
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND2001 Adam/Ikpo Mwosa
The headless, limbless body of a boy aged between five and six was found floating in the river Thames
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND2008
Khyra Ishaq
‘Khyra dropped down as she walked after a spirit got into her body, it was evil and it was trying to control her body because Khyra had accepted it as a friend’
Sibling
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMANDCASE STUDY
Child B 2003"She pulled out a little knife and she did little marks on me. I was bleeding. The three of them surrounded me and one kicked me, one slapped me and one pushed me. I asked myself,
What have I done?"
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Bruises
Scarring
Stab Wound
All
Historical?43
Injuries
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Significant FindingsCase Study - Child ‘B’
• Diary entry 16 Nov 2003 in Lingala: – ‘At ‘church’ a prophecy was given that (Child B) has witchcraft.’
• Expert witness in 'witchcraft' provides evidence• Churches that Child B attended were identified but no evidence to prosecute.
• DNA showed that none of defendants were the mother although 3 were maternal relations.
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
OutcomesCase Study - Child ‘B’
• June 2005 – Full trial and guilty verdicts for 3 defendants of Child Cruelty. Maximum sentence, 10 yrs, imposed for 2 main defendants.
• National Guidelines published in consultation with Project Violet.• Partnership Team formed
• 1st Paediatrician explained that: ‘the examination room was poorly lit with no natural light’.
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMANDShared Experiences:
Separated
Isolated
Starved
Scapegoated
Harmed
Traumatised
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Project Violet
‘Children abused through a
belief in spirit possession’
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
AIMS• Develop prevention opportunities for
children abused through a belief in spirit possession.
• Raise awareness within practicing
communities and statutory agencies.
• Develop intelligence opportunities
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Project Violet Board
• Made up of specialist child abuse detectives, Crown Prosecution Service, community members, AFRUCA, The Churches Child Protection Advisory Serivce, London Safeguarding Board and the Victoria Climbie Foundation
• Will sit on a quarterly basis
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Five Strand Framework
• Jointly agreed 'Terms of Reference & action plan
• Clear engagement and activity strategies – faith communities
• Clear engagement and activity strategies – wider community groups
• Development of new practitioner guidance
• Ensure Project Violet partnership is linked into wider regional debates
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Challenges…• Hidden Crime – Difficult to Measure• Identification of cases – Use of Flags• Advice, Guidance & Support for cases• CP Concerns at Places of Worship• Work in partnership (CCPAS, LSCB’s,
NGO, etc)• Training and Awareness Raising• National & International liaison
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Remember…
This is not about persecuting people's beliefs, but about
safeguarding children
Contact Project VioletTelephone 0207 161 3822
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Thank you for listening…
Any questions?