CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Child Abuse linked to a belief in
Witchcraft and Spirit Possession
Detective Sergeant Vicky Washington
Partnership 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
43 Injuries
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Case Study - Child ‘B’
Significant Findings
• Diary entry 16 Nov 2003 in Lingala: –
‘At ‘church’ a prophecy was given that (Child B) has
witchcraft.’
• DNA showed that none of defendants were the
mother although 3 were maternal relations.
• Expert witness in 'witchcraft' provides evidence
• Churches that Child B attended were identified but no
evidence to prosecute.
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Case Study - Child ‘B’
Outcomes
• June 2005 – Full trial and guilty verdicts for 3
defendants of Child Cruelty. Maximum sentence, 10 yrs,
imposed for 2 main defendants.
• 1st Paediatrician explained that:
‘the examination room was poorly lit with no natural
light’.
• National Guidelines published in consultation with
Project Violet.
• Partnership Team formed
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 Violet
Telephone 0207 161 3822
CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION COMMAND
Thank you for listening…
Any questions?