The UK Column has published a series of detailed articles exposing the widespread physical and sexual abuse that has taken place at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) over many years. Following threats of “action” from the College, we have persisted, knowing that serious allegations have been made by multiple individuals and that there is documented evidence to back them up (statements, dates, times, names etc.). All of the young victims speak of a culture of intimidation and cover-ups.
Sick abuser protected by authorities
We also exposed how Oxford City Councillors were misled by City Council Child Protection Officers, who either turned a blind eye or did not report the crimes after preventing proper investigations from taking place. In one example, OCVC “fired” a member of staff (here identified as AF) for repeatedly showing sexually explicit images of an erect penis to colleagues. Younger students reported being shown much more serious material. A sick university lecturer used his mobile phone, laptop and university computer during lesson time to tell, read and show inappropriate material to students. Some of their testimonials are harrowing, with victims severely traumatised by unspeakably vile material including child pornography, child assault and abuse, snuff films and animal cruelty. We can also reveal that students who made formal complaints were not informed of what ultimately happened to lecturer AF. It emerged that OCVC staff had secretly agreed with city hall officials and the police not to inform complaining students of the final outcome of the dismissal action. This cynical action has deprived students of both justice and the possibility of reparation.
The man in question, AF – a white male in his late 40s to early 50s – was a formal lecturer in the automotive department at Black Bird Leys Campus and is understood to still be in at-will employment as a valuer at an educational motor trade training facility in Northamptonshire. He is protected by the authorities and has not been CRB checked or placed on the sex offenders register. Why has he not been investigated, charged and banned by an independent safeguarding body?
Documented reports of “routine assaults” against students are also not passed on to the police for investigation and action. More recently, another member of staff, identified by students as a long-term abuser, was allegedly snuck out of OCVC on “sick leave” in October 2012 following further complaints of student bullying. Again, no appropriate action has been taken. The same goes for white men entering college to educate students. Have OCVC's partner schools ever been informed that 14-year-olds attending college to gain vocational qualifications are at serious risk? Have their parents ever been warned?
Blatant racism by Thames Valley Police
When we realized that students’ reports of abuse were factual, careful, and fully supported by solid evidence, we realized there was a racist dimension to the abuse cover-up.
Just as brave NHS whistleblower Gary Walker was sacked, bullied and abused for reporting deaths and serious abuse within the NHS, this brave Asian lecturer was attacked by his employer and others. His crime? Trying to protect white male and female students. Far from praising a whistleblower of serious abuse at Oxford and Thames Valley University, the universities tried to destroy him. Shockingly, Oxford and Thames Valley Police boast about their success in arresting Asian paedophiles in Operation Bulfinch, yet steadfastly refuse to accept evidence from Asian staff involved – evidence that identifies white abusers with white victims.
Operation Bulfinch: Police ignore victims
Notably, victims who appeared in court during the paedophile investigation, Operation Bulfinch, also reported a culture of cover-ups by police and child protection services. The Oxford Mail reported that “juries were told the girls were ideal candidates for a child prostitution ring because their delinquency was unlikely to be believed by the police… It did not take long for police to be satisfied that no crime had been committed.”
One girl (1), who was at the trial, said she was “disappointed by the police because I reported the abuse in 2006 but nothing happened”. Most shockingly, she also said “They (the police) threatened to arrest me on multiple occasions for wasting their time by turning up at a county police station after I ran away from home”. She added: “There is something fundamentally wrong with picking up a child covered in cigarette burns and bruises… adults should be doing their jobs”. UK Column understands that both Joanna Symonds, chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council, and Jim Leavers, director of children's services, were in Courtroom 8 to watch the hearing. Why? Remorse?
This blatant disregard by police mirrors the complaint of a former OCVC female student who reported a violent sexual assault and feared being raped. In fact, her complaint was left unattended by Thames Valley Police's Child Abuse Investigation Unit for over two years, during which time the girl had to fight for her complaint to be resolved. Allegations of serious abuse from Asian staff at OCVC and supporting evidence, including that of a female victim, were forwarded to Thames Valley Police. No action was taken.
Oxford Council officials 'cheating' elected members
Mr Leavers has already been identified by the UK Column as deliberately or inadvertently misleading councillors by trying to claim that full investigations had been carried out. He said: “I can categorically state that the investigations which have been carried out, and the information provided to the county council following these investigations, have shown that the vast majority of allegations are unsubstantiated. I can also categorically state that where there were allegations which were substantiated, steps have been taken to address these issues.”
But Leaver's claims are untrue: a piecemeal investigation with disjointed evidence was sold to MPs as a thorough investigation. This failure was highlighted in letters written to MPs by parliament's legal staff in which they sought to reassure MPs that “no serious child abuse had occurred”. This same legal team has accused concerned members of the public who have asked for documents that could help uncover the cover-up of nuisance. Councillor Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, appears to be one who has been duped by his own subordinates.
This shameful and sordid cover-up, which exposes racism, is facilitated by the intimate and intertwined nature of Oxfordshire County Council's child protection committee; the police sit side by side with those who deliberately covered up evidence of abuse; and the “independent” child protection officers are in fact paid soldiers of Oxford Council, where reputation management is more important than child protection.
£1 million to rename child protection failures
The picture of OCVC abuse becomes even more eerie when you realise that Cowley police station, where OCVC victims claim they have been ignored, now runs the “Kingfisher” specialist child protection centre. It is a £1 million initiative funded by £500,000 from Thames Valley Police and £620,000 from the council. The centre is staffed by a detective constable and a sergeant, case investigators, intelligence officers and a missing persons coordinator, and the council provides five social workers, two family support workers and an administrator.
“We have worked together on Operation Bulfinch, which began in spring 2011, and forming this joint team now formalises our relationship,” Mr Leavers said, according to the Oxford Mail. “The message is clear: the authorities are well equipped to tackle this type of crime in Oxfordshire.” His comments were backed by Andrew Smith, MP for East Oxford, who added: “It is important that we do everything we can to protect children from abuse and it's good to see coordinated action. It's vital that all children know they can speak up and that there are people who will help them.”
For young victims of abuse at OCVC and elsewhere the message is very clear: those guilty of a total failure in child protection are reinventing themselves and hiding behind a £1 million smokescreen.Andrew Smith MP has also joined in this hypocrisy by not taking action on behalf of young victims who have approached him directly.
His failings are also reflected in Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, Louise Chapman, the Conservative MP. The daughter of David Cameron's election agent, the controversial Conservative MP has been privately criticised by some colleagues for her poor attendance at meetings and lack of intellectual acumen.
“We will continue to investigate and report on this case. There is growing evidence that Thames Valley Police and other police forces engaged in blatant racism and gross negligence in failing to investigate abuse and paedophilia at OCVC. Oxfordians must expose this corrupt situation and take appropriate action to protect children.
