GMP open child sex abuse investigation

The country’s third largest police force has launched a probe into allegations of historical child sex abuse in youth football after recent media reports prompted people to come forward.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) joined the Metropolitan Police and the Football Association in investigating the growing scandal, which was sparked when ex-player Andy Woodward spoke out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted paedophile Barry Bennell.

It comes after it emerged that Bennell, a former Crewe Alexandra coach, was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital on Friday night after being found unconscious, in what police called a “fear for welfare” incident.

GMP urged more victims to come forward and said complaints would be treated seriously.

Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Ford said: “Following recent media coverage, Greater Manchester Police has received a number of calls from people reporting historic sexual abuse whilst they were in the youth football system.

“We have now launched an investigation and our specially trained officers are supporting those who have come forward so far.

“We are co-ordinating our investigation with forces nationally and with Operation Hydrant, the national co-ordination hub for historic child abuse investigations concerning persons of public prominence.

“I would encourage anyone who was a victim of sexual or physical abuse to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible.

“I completely understand that for many people, making disclosures about such traumatic events can be difficult, but we will offer advice and support throughout.”

More than 20 former players have come forward with allegations of historical child abuse, prompting the FA to step up its review.

On Sunday the FA instructed independent leading counsel Kate Gallafent QC to oversee its internal review, assessing ”what information the FA was aware of at the relevant times, what clubs were aware of, and what action was or should have been taken”.

Her recommendations will be considered but the FA accepts a full, wide-ranging inquiry may yet be necessary.

Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, accused the FA of being slow in responding to the growing scandal.

The MP for Folkestone & Hythe told the BBC: “This internal review needs to go much wider. They need to make it clear that this is a full investigation. The person leading it can take it in whatever direction they want, that anyone in football who is called as a witness is compelled to give evidence.

“We have seen allegations that clubs paid off players to keep quiet. People have come forward saying that people within their club knew, that they made complaints that weren’t acted on, the people at the FA knew, and, therefore, what did the FA do with the evidence they were given?

“I think too often, particularly in football, where independent investigations are launched, they often have very narrow terms of reference and their findings are kept private.”

The Metropolitan Police, Hampshire Police and Cheshire Police have already said they are investigating allegations of abuse in the football community.

Northumbria Police said it was investigating an allegation by an unnamed former Newcastle player that he was abused in the club’s youth system. Newcastle said they would co-operate with authorities ”if or when the club receives further information”.

UEFA has given its support to the FA as it conducts a review into the allegations.

“UEFA is aware of the allegations of sexual abuse made by several footballers in the English media,” UEFA chief of communications Pedro Pinto said.

“We are very concerned by these disturbing revelations and would like to state categorically that any kind of abusive behaviour in the game is completely unacceptable. We send our support to the Football Association, who we trust is doing all it can to investigate the matter.”

 

Bennell, who was given a nine-year jail term in 1998 after being convicted of a string of sex offences against boys, remains in hospital after being found unconscious.

A Thames Valley Police statement said: “Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, just before 11pm on Friday November 25 in connection with a fear for welfare incident.

“A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital in order to receive medical treatment, where he remains.

“At this stage of inquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

A spokesman for East of England Ambulance Service said: “We received a call on Friday at 10.50pm to reports of an unconscious man on Knebworth Park in Stevenage to which we sent an ambulance crew to.

“The crew arrived within eight minutes to treat the man … before taking him to Lister Hospital for further care.”

A spokesman for Novotel Stevenage, which is in the country park, declined to comment and police refused to give further details.

Bennell, who worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and junior teams in north-west England and the Midlands, abused boys from the 1970s onwards.

He was jailed for four years for raping a British boy on a 1994 football tour of Florida, and then, aged 44, was given a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against six boys in England in 1998.

He was jailed for a third time in 2015 after admitting abusing a boy at a 1980 football camp in Macclesfield.

Those making allegations against him include former Manchester City man David White and youth player Jason Dunford, plus ex-Crewe player Steve Walters and youngster Chris Unsworth.