Police chief backs sex abuse victim’s call for law change

The chief constable of Bedfordshire Police has told Sky News he backs calls for a new law to pardon children who were forced to commit crimes by their abusers.

The campaign is being led by Sammy Woodhouse – who as a teenager was groomed by a sexual predator involved in the Rotherham child grooming gang.

Like many others in her situation she was forced to break the law by her abuser – and says that her criminal record is now making it hard for her to move on with her life.

Sammy told Sky News: "I’m asking for the Government to put something in place stating that children, while being groomed to commit crimes, can’t be charged.

"I want them to recognise how many people across the country have been charged – me being one of them. I want to be able to speak to someone, have that cleared, because while it’s on our records I feel like we are constantly being blamed for being abused."

Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has given the proposed law his full support, telling Sky News: "I think policing is about sensible, pragmatic ways of doing things. If this was a member of my family, or this was someone who I knew, I would hope common sense would prevail.

"Sammy’s story is very powerful – she is the victim in this, she is not the offender, and if we get more victims coming forward so that officers can go after those offenders, and get the evidence against them to put them behind bars, then that works for me."

Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield has also backed the scheme, saying that if Sammy’s Law could be made to work it could be of benefit to vulnerable young people who are being groomed and abused.

"The authorities and police will want to look and make sure it isn’t used or abused by those who want use it to get away with offences in the past – or indeed for abusers to use this to exploit children further," Ms Longfield told Sky News.

"But with intelligent insight and a grown up look at this, and with grown up dialogue it has the makings of something very positive for children going forward."

Sammy has written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd asking her to consider introducing Sammy’s Law, but is yet to receive a full response to her letter.

The proposed law could potentially affect hundreds of victims of child sexual exploitation, by removing a level of control from their abusers and making it easier for them to go to the authorities to report their abuse.

The Home Office issued this statement to Sky News: "Ms Woodhouse was a victim of vile abuse and she has shown tremendous strength and courage in speaking out. We will consider Ms Woodhouse’s situation and respond to her directly in due course.

"Safeguarding vulnerable people is a top priority for this Government and that is why we are overhauling how police, social services and others work together to protect children and bring perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice.

"We are determined to ensure that victims do not suffer in silence and feel able to come forward to report abuse and get the support that they need."

(c) Sky News 2017: Police chief backs sex abuse victim’s call for law change