CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND

Child Abuse linked to a belief in Witchcraft and Spirit Possession

Detective Sergeant Vicky WashingtonPartnership Team

CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND

2000 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 COMMAND

2001 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 COMMAND

2008 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 COMMAND

CASE 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 Findings

Case 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

Outcomes

Case 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 COMMAND

Shared 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?