Met Police says it was not a crime for council staff to proposition children for sex in 1984
Keith Hinchliffe, the child sex abuse survivor, who got his predator sentenced to six years in jail 40 years after he abused him for three years , is facing an uphill battle with the Met Police and the London borough of Richmond to get compensation or even recognition there was a problem.
The Met Police are describing his allegation that he was propositioned for sex by a member of staff at Grafton Close Children’s home as ” not a crime” and the council have employed lawyers and insurers to say it did not fail in its duty of care to look after him.
Keith’s abuser, Phillip Saunders, had open access to the children’s home where he took him out to sexually abuse him and the member of staff propositioned him when she invited him to her flat in return for saying she would help him leave the home early.
Documents show the Met Police has reviewed the allegations he made in 1984 which resulted in ” no further action” but came to the same conclusion again. The documents show that at first Richmond Council tried to say there was no evidence that he was at the home and then because he was not certain whether her name was Christine or Linda they could not trace anybody.
But the most damning finding was that the Met concluded that no crime existed in the first place.
The report said: “You stated ..that you had been propositioned but that the suspect had not touched you or physically sexually abused you. You stated that it was verbal comments only. I agree that crimes of such nature are fully within the public interest, however, there has to have been a crime committed for that interest to exist.”
Detective Sergeant Alex Woolley of the Met Police Child Sex Abuse Investigations Team, wrote to him saying: ”
“In relation to what happened you at Grafton Close, this report has been closed and classified as a “no crime”.
“Clearly the conduct of the member of staff is entirely unacceptable. However, we have to apply the law as it was at the time that the incidents happened. This happened before the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and so we have to consider what legislation is available to us in the 1980s.”
Keith Hinchliffe was very dissatisfied by the decision and has appealed to the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) for a review of the case at the end of October when Saunders was convicted. The office has accepted his complaint but warned him it could take 8 months to get a reply because of a backlog of complaints against the Met.
Richmond’s response has been even more negative. First they questioned whether he had ever been at Grafton and said there were no records showing he was there. Then by pursuing the issue with his local MP and a Freedom of Information request the South London Legal Partnership found a log confirming he had been admitted to Grafton Close and discharged six weeks later. But it said all the social work records at that time had been destroyed. It refused to release any documents on the Fernbridge investigation by the Met into child sexual abuse at Grafton Close home in 2015 which the authority did confirm it had co-operated with the police on the grounds that they were too sensitive because they contained details of third parties involved.
When he persisted in pursuing Richmond over this the council turned the case over to lawyers in Nottingham, Browne Jacobson, an Anglo-Irish firm, who cover business, government and health issues.
The firm in a letter this month set out to demolish Keith’s claims of negligence or breach of duty of care at Grafton Close. It cited case law to exonerate social workers who may be involved in his case and also said he had to meet stringent tests to bring any claim that the staff failed to protect him. One of them included he couldn’t produce documents to show the council’s policies at the time – since the council has destroyed all the records.
You can’t bring a negligence case if there was no duty of care -Richmond Council’s lawyers
The lawyers also said he was out of time to bring a case and they would challenge this in court. They were also sceptical of whether the conviction of Saunders would help. The lawyers wrote to him saying ” a claim in negligence cannot succeed if there is no duty of care in the first place”.
It goes on to say the council have neither admitted or denied the conviction of Mr Saunders but would need a certification of conviction or indictment.
The firm warned him they had agreed to represent Richmond if he brought a case and that he could incur substantial costs and he should take independent legal advice.
Since publication of the first blog I have been contacted by one other resident at Grafton Close suggesting there was a woman member of staff at Grafton Close who did sleep with at least one of the boys there. What Keith is exposing is a cess pit of behaviour which the Met and Richmond Council want to forget.
I don’t think Keith is going to give up on this so I expect there will be further developments. Watch this space.
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Way to go Keith! Have total admiration for his strength in continuing to talk truth to power. I wish him all the very best and thank you David for your valuable support to Keith. You’re a good man.
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I assume he has already submitted Subject Access Requests for his own personal information to all concerned
A letter sent signed for addressed to Sadiq Khan himself, although not generating a response personally should speed up the MOPAC response
Here is the email for Sir Mark Rowley-mark.rowley@met.police.uk
Good luck
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You haven’t heard nothing yet.
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Re. the propostioner, she is known to the MPS and the CPS. Not the only name and wider evidence that has now been found re. Grafton, Elm, Dolphin and Rocks Lane pre-1977.
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If you have any information regarding this please pass it to me or David so we can use it appropriately. We have to verify anything we promote however I am happy to investigate anything that is forwarded.
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Very good luck Keith. This is a paradigm example of police retaliation for the expression of a complaint about one of their own. They will do everything to dismiss and silence you. The Police are just as bad as the NHS, at Derbyshire NHS Trust it was just continuous lies; they wanted me in prison or in my grave: https://patientcomplaintdhcftdotcom.wordpress.com/
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I now know who the female worker is and her roles at Richmond Council. I also know that she was lined up as a prosecution witness at the Stingemore/McSweeny trial but the CPS decided not to call her. I also know what information was given to the CPS in the Southwark court corridor which may have influenced the CPS action inaction.
As a rider I recently had a conversation with a CPS person. They were well versed in the Westminster allegations due to their proximity to the false claims of the fantasist Beech. Comments to me were ‘rules for some and rules for others’ and ‘we all (at the CPS) knew what was going on ‘ re. the children. Well recent CPS bods were not the only legal people who knew what was going on. A contracted-in barrister who was engaged by the CPS in the 90s to give advice to the MPS on post narrative interviews and charging issues around the boys and MPs also knew. Within the day of the sit down meeting NSY shut down the whole operation. As said earlier, rules for some and rules for others as it has a,ways been whoa unto the middle ages.
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If you can let us have the name that would help. My X is @hinchliffe18424
You can find me there reach out to David either way knowing the name help many people that want to come forward. If you say the MPS already know then I am in touch with the MPS and the Chief inspector this would help my case.
Thank you.
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Hi Keith, I have already given the detail to DH. My evidence goes way beyond Grafton which although horrific they other acquisitions should terrify people bigger than Richmond Council. I have dealt with the official side of the Police and therefore would not trust their front of house people. They will be nice, concerning and full of promises which will come to nothing. Slowly slowly the exposure route will manifest later, so in the meantime liase with DH and hold fire.
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Thank you for the update I will Speak with David it is so important that the truth and the facts are laid bare.
Some much has been said about these homes and Carl Beech unfortunately has destroyed the those facts with lies.
The abuse did happen and there is more to tell the more that come forward like my self there will be no place left for denial.
Thank you for your input and all information is welcome.
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Who is Carl Beech? Got the point? Exactly. Do not link that fantasist with these current developments, that is what the deniers do and will do given the opportunity. Leave Mr Beech forgotton and deservedly behind bars.
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Significant information received yesterday. Link between Grafton and Elm comes out of a previously unnamed Richmond Council officer. Apologies for further lack of information but this source who I have yet to personally contact is a game changer.
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Well it is all starting to come together. Evidence only just disclosed to me shows that the homes run by Richmond were more than just accommodation units. They were also ‘assessment’ hubs where children were tried out and then passed onto for use at outside venues. Aside from the already known, another venue was disclosed to me. After I literally got back off the floor I then knew why the Met was not fully doing the CSA business The reason why is they have been as far as the evidence disclosed, shows for at least the past forty years the Met have really been protecting themselves bigtime and I mean BIG TIME. Really dangerous stuff to have and to know.
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So we are some months in since this was posted up by David and much promise of what you have to expose. I appreciate this case maybe a story to some but again I need to make it clear real people are still suffering the affects of this place decades on after the abuse took place. This includes me too. If you do know anything that can support the current investigation in terms of post Stingmore and McSweeny then please speak up. Its very clear that child abuse existed beyond the conviction of these two and what you know should be revealed.
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Hi well please share it with David I personally would embrace reading what you know. There is good reason to share. This has to be fact checked and and verified. We need the truth to be out there. I think we all know there is way more to say and tell already about LBRUT homes. If anything you have can be corroborated then it should be in the public domain and serious questions need to be asked as that already are being. I wasn’t the only victim I know that and denial from LBRUT is infuriating. The Met has its own agenda its own politics and is far to big in my opinion.
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All in due course. I am going to pick my moment for the really big stuff. In the meantime DH and another will fire a few facts out there to worry and undoubtedly fracture the opposition. The establishment and their cronies have controlled this agenda for far too long. Putting out the evidence piecemeal will enable them to deny. I have a focal point for when all the current stand up evidence to go from me to the lawyers and therefore into the public domain. It will be overwhelming but until that moment, which is not be imminent, I am holding my fire. 40 years plus of denial and concealment will not be hurt by another 1 or 2 year wait for justice and exposure.
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Well it will hurt survivors like myself that have been abused in the locations as above if you have evidence that validates this please hand it over now. Many many survivors had a lifetime of hell why make them wait!
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Got that Tee-shirt that says that gameplay does not work. Police, Councils, Inquiry all are gathering information to plan and use the denying defence. This time it will be my gameplay which does not give them that and wriggle room. Overwhelming attacks on multiple cases from ring, parties and rapes in Police stations.
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Okay I will have to leave it there then. I cant support what I don’t know about. I can only deal with truths and what can be corroborated. I wish you the very best in your journey. For me the facts count and that is the only way to achieve what all survivors need. Real Justice. Thank you
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https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/24169911.richmond-child-abuse-victim-criticises-thames-valley-police/
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/police-said-abuser-couldnt-traced-050000372.html
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My X profile is @hinchliffe18424
My You Tube Channel is @keithhinchliffe
I continue to keep on fighting for the correct justice. Support where you can follow retweet or comment it all helps get the agenda out there.
More media is coming in the weeks ahead as I talk to other journalists that want to report on this case and raise the attention it rightly deserves.
Grafton Close Childrens Home and those that were around it like Rodney Road where not safe environments for children. Shockingly LBRUT are still in denial of that despite the recent and historic convictions.
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David much more in last couple of days. One little tit bit – Stingemore was not sacked for CSA. Caught and Carpeted on minor matter and was dismissed. Par for course for LBRuT. You only have to see the 1. Nursery Midwifery Councils disciplinary notes that a red top gave to me back in 2013, No mention of his abuse, dismissed on a technical matter. 2. LBRuT worker with hard link to EGH caught with extreme CSA images…NFA. 3. Cllr caught with images on his Council e-laptop…deninal and slap on the wrist for him.
Richmond Council and its big wigs knew exactly what was going under their roof’s re. CSA from the 1970s under their roofs.
Coming together nicely. Lots of work for me and T over the next week. Solicitor on call to bounce procedures and evidence off of.
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Nos 1 above not Stingemore.
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I look forward to this going ahead and seeing it happen. Its a really important subject to get out there because its clear in my case the abuse continued even after Stingmore. This is the part of the history there that I personally need to know about.
I have repeatedly asked LBRUT for answers and meeting and no response head in the sand. Recent media released in the press has not bought any further news from them. Its now a national campaign by me to uncover the truth about this place no mater where it comes from.
The truth is there. It just needs to be admitted by the council. So many suffered at the hands of this council so much more needs to be done to help them.
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Just to remind all again
My X profile is @hinchliffe18424
My You Tube Channel is @keithhinchliffe
Thank you
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The individual and allegations were to the MPS via Police Portal:. Name, Description, Location, Legal Files and Allegations from another Richmond resident who wishes to remain anonymous.
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Richmond Councils Legal Head, Mr Choudary.. Therefore is Mr Choudary taking the legal lead on Mr Hinchcliffe’s correspondence? or is Mr Hinchcliffe’s correspondence being passed onto an anonymous legal officer in the same department that once employed Mr Vaz, the son of the woman who also taught at Stanley Primary School, at the same time children from Richmond councils childrens homes were placed into that School.
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Well I’m unaware of what happened to my correspondence internally at the council as they have not responded all I do know is I only receive correspondence from their solicitors and what I have had I have have now made public. I will look into the names above. I can say with out hesitation that Keith Vaz’s mother taught me as a pupil of Stanley road junior school. I was unaware Mr Vaz had a dept or was employed by LBRUT. Again I will look at that. The more I here the more interesting this all gets. I will still be asking to have LBRUT to come clean as always.
I have this morning remembered a few full names from the home whilst I was there. My next video will talk a bit about what it was like in that home for me arriving there and as a resident.
Please keep us all updated !
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Please will everybody remember it is a criminal offence to name or publish information which can directly or indirectly identify any person who even made allegations of CSA. I know it is easy for people to make mistakes, even including the courts who gave me unredacted papers in 2017, when people’s experiences or dealings with CSA have been frustrated, denied and concealed.
Even genuine mistakes will be used against the people who are trying to get the truth out. Only two days ago I had a chat with one of the many people who went thru the Richmond factory. Unlike many others, that person although supportive, is choosing to move on. Can you blame someone for doing that? NO. Those human beings must have their wishes and anonymity respected.
Here is an example of an extreme outcome of resurrection. A Police Operation looking at the Richmond abuse rings interviewed a victim using well meaning detectives but who were not specfically trained for interviewing CSA survivors. I was told shortly afterwards he took his life.
Any approaches have to be gradually made to CSA survivors firstly ascertain if they can take the resurrection. Any doubts as to their mental health or non-willingness, if suspected at the intial approach which should also be very limited in detail and gore, please leave them alone and walk away.
Conversely there are many others who are willing to help, not just CSA victims but other victims i.e Councillors, Council Officers, Police Officers, National Newspaper Editors and many others who were ignored, threatened, lost their livelihoods or temporarily destroyed.
Frustrating as it appears that Richmond and their confederates are doing nothing and WILL continue to do nothing as they have since the 1970s, the day will come where this continued inactivity will be revealed. Revelations that will not just effect the abusers who are alive and well but also the people you are dealing with at present.
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Insider I will also add that I have detectives and a chief inspector on hand at any time to take any relevant information about this case due to its significance. They are also aware of my media exposure at all times I stay in regular contact with them. If you have information and you are alluding to the fact you are. Maybe you should speak with them or I should ask the to speak with you. Holding information back in a criminal case filed or otherwise is also an offence. I will notifying them of what you have said and point them in your direction. I don’t have time to waste or mess around playing games.
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I hope these words are not aimed at myself. I am here as CSA victim and have waived my anonymity to come forward in the light of my case. In doing so I am coming across many new pieces of information all unsubstantiated or corroborated. This said I do intend to get to the truth as I am one of the children that suffered at this home. I am fully aware and sensitive for anyone that has wanted to remain anonymous. If any one holds information that is helpful to the cases behind this children’s home or any other it should be given to the police.
I will remain in the public domain and in the media for good reason. The story is about me and I am sure many others. Its not directly affecting anyone.
Insider! if you have information relating to these cases at Grafton close children’s home I suggest you hand it to the police. Failure to do this is making you culpable if you are holding information that will directly implicate perpetrators of these offences.
I will not and cannot deal in conspiracy falsehood or fantasy. I am aware of my rights and what I can and cant say. I will speak in my videos online as I see fit to highlight the issues I face and rightly so.
Its also important that we don’t have any further lunatics out there that what notoriety from hearsay or gossip or conspiracy. Survivors of CSA deserve far better respect than that!
Let me make it clear again anyone holding information about my case or others that can help with prosecution needs to hand this to the police its not a game. Failing to do so makes you just as capable as the perpetrators themselves.
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