Police chief defends enquiry methods

A leading police officer has defended the
force’s use of “trawling” methods when investigating allegations of
child abuse.

Chief
constable Terence Grange, of Dyfed Powys police in Wales, told the
Home Affairs select committee into child abuse: “There is no other
way you could successfully investigate these crimes.”

The
police reject suggestions that interviewing large numbers of people
following one or two complaints encourages further
allegations.

Grange, also the Association of
Chief Police Officers’ lead on child protection, said that even if
a dozen people came forward officers would still need to gather
strong evidence to take the case to court.

He
went on to dismiss the concept of paedophile rings as “media hype”.
“I don’t believe anyone has found one,” he said.