Update on Knowl View abuse investigations

Since the launch of the investigation into reports of abuse at Knowl View School in Rochdale more than 20 victims have spoken to the police.

Officers from Greater Manchester continue to investigate these reports which relate to both physical and sexual abuse that took place at the school.

Twenty-four victims have so far come forward and these complaints relate to child abuse that took place at Knowl View residential school for boys from 1969 until the school closed in 1995.

These complaints relate to abuse that took place by adults upon pupils and between the pupils themselves and are currently being investigated by officers from one of GMP’s Major Incident syndicates.

Since the start of the investigation 21 men, aged between 35 and 80 have been interviewed under caution for a variety of offences including complaints of both sexual and physical offences.

There are a number of other suspects yet to be traced and interviewed and police are also working to establish if any of the potential suspects are now deceased.

Running alongside this is the separate investigation into complaints of abuse by Cyril Smith against teenage boys in Rochdale between 1960 and 1987.

So far 20 victims have made complaints against Smith, the offences range from sexual assault to rape. The reported offences took place at Knowl View, Cambridge House along with other locations in the borough of Rochdale.

Separately to these investigations, Greater Manchester Police has launched an inquiry to identify whether any offences have been committed in the way that previous reports of abuse were handled or allegedly covered up.

The main concerns relate to the response to child abuse over several decades connected to Knowl View Residential School.

GMP has consulted with the Home Office in relation to the national inquiry that has been announced into how organisations responded to child abuse, but as these matters relate to criminal allegations in the GMP area, the responsibility to investigate falls to the Chief Constable.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “The investigation into abuse at Knowl View School continues and since the start of the inquiry 24 victims have come forward.

“These are serious complaints made against both staff and pupils at the school and we have a team of experienced detectives working on the case.

“The passage of time makes these investigations difficult and complex but we are committed to supporting victims who now have the strength to come forward as best as we can.

“I would encourage anyone who was a victim of either sexual or physical abuse to come forward and speak to police as the more evidence we have the better the chances are of bringing abusers to justice.

"We completely understand that for many people they will not want to relive the abuse they suffered, but for those who do want to come forward I want to give you complete confidence that your complaints will be treated seriously and thoroughly investigated.

“Greater Manchester Police takes allegations of abuse very seriously and continues to do so and if anyone has been a victim of abuse, we ask them to contact us.”

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515.