A former high-ranking police officer, a member of the West Yorkshire Police Bradford Grooming Gang, accused of concealing a grooming scandal, has been referred to the National Crime Agency by Chris Philp.
The shadow home secretary has requested the agency to investigate allegations that a chief superintendent of West Yorkshire Police obstructed enquiries into grooming accusations at a children’s home in Bradford.
Retired Det Ch Insp John Piekos alleged that the police chief instructed him to cease the investigation into grooming to avoid inciting racial tensions within the community.
Mr Philp stated that Mr John Piekos was prepared to furnish a comprehensive statement to the NCA, participate in an interview, and provide sworn testimony to substantiate his allegations regarding the cover-up.
The shadow home secretary supplied the NCA with the identity of the former chief superintendent but did not disseminate the information more broadly.
In a correspondence to Graeme Biggar, director general of the NCA, Mr Chris Philp stated: “I contend that [redacted]’s reported conduct in his role as a police chief superintendent constitutes the common law offence of Misconduct in Public Office.”
Misconduct in Public Office pertains to a significant intentional misuse or disregard of the authority or duties associated with the public office held.
The explicit criteria are delineated in the published instructions of the Crown Prosecution Service about this offence and seem to be satisfied in this instance, according to the facts presented by John Piekos.
I implore you to contact John, do an interview, and thoroughly examine this issue.
“Children unaccounted for during late hours”
Mr Philp stated that Mr John Piekos commenced his investigation into a children’s home in 2010, during his tenure at a charity following his departure from the police force.
He witnessed several occurrences of children disappearing during the late hours of the night. John stated that these girls frequently departed for extended durations.
During his inquiry, he followed a vehicle one night that picked up a child from her residence, subsequently observing the apparent maltreatment of the young girl inside the car. He presumed the driver to possess Asian ancestry.
A meeting was convened involving law enforcement, social services, and local children’s charities, presided over by the then Bishop of Bradford, to evaluate the allegations and determine the appropriate course of action.
Mr John Piekos claimed that a senior social services officer informed him after the meeting that he would be arrested if he continued to investigate the matter.
Mr Philp stated, “John expressed his astonishment at being threatened in such a manner.”
During his drive back to the office in Manchester, Mr John Piekos received a call from the previous chief superintendent, advising him against further investigation.
This pertains to safeguarding young girls.
Mr Philp stated that all this effort was at risk due to the far Right potentially inciting riots and exacerbating animosity among different community groupings.
John noticed that [redacted] was chiefly preoccupied with communal cohesion and racial strife, rather than the sexual exploitation of young females. John stated that he subsequently remarked to [redacted]: ‘This is not a matter of race; it pertains to safeguarding young girls.’
John enquired about his next course of action, to which [redacted] responded, “Can’t you simply leave?”
John stated that he responded, “Seriously… do you simply wish for me to leave?” [Redacted] reiterated that John was unaware of the situation he had encountered, and the call concluded shortly thereafter.
Mr Philp stated that it was evident the chief superintendent had no intention of conducting an investigation into the crimes “as he was mandated to do.”
“He was also attempting to actively dissuade or caution John Piekos against investigating them independently, given John’s role at the charity,” he stated.
“Evidence has emerged nationwide indicating that authorities, particularly local councils and the police, and possibly the CPS, concealed these rapes due to the predominantly Pakistani heritage of the perpetrators.”
“Concealing the sexual assault of minors for such reasons is unethical; however, no individual has ever been held accountable for these concealments.”
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