AN alleged rape by a murderer, an alleged sex assault on a young girl and eight child abuse cases have been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in the past fortnight.

They are the latest to be referred and mean there are now six different investigations into how Essex Police handled about 40 cases involving more than 60 victims.

The investigations include the handling of cases involving rapists, child abusers and a murderer.

Essex Police apologised for mistakes made and is currently reviewing hundreds of investigations.

A spokesman for the force promised everything is being done to examine what has happened.

The investigations include:

• The handling of an investigation into a serious sexual assault against a young girl in south Essex in 2011.

The case has been reopened for a fresh criminal investigation.

Two police officers have been placed on restricted duties and the IPCC is looking at how it was originally handled.

• 36 cases into more than 60 victims from north Essex.

Earlier this month Essex Police revealed 28 cases involving 59 victims had been referred to the IPCC following mistakes by the north child abuse investigation team covering Colchester, Tendring and mid Essex.

Another eight cases have been added to this investigation during the past ten days.

The cases themselves are being investigated again, this time by Norfolk Police, while the IPCC looks at what went wrong.

One officer was suspended and 11 are on restricted duties.

The cases include allegations of rape against “very young” children.

They include historic allegations made between 2011 and 2014 and new allegations.

Children may have suffered further abuse as a result of the mistakes.

 

• Two investigations into physical and sexual abuse in north Essex are being examined by the IPCC after referrals in September last year.

 

• The handling by police of a rape allegation in 2011.

An investigation by Essex Police looking at Essex Police began in December. It was referred to the IPCC earlier this month.

It is understood this case relates to allegations made against Lewis Daynes, 19, of Roseberry Road, Grays.

Almost three years later he killed a schoolboy.

He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years for murdering 14-year-old Breck Bednar in February 2014.

The allegation itself is being considered as well as how Essex Police handled its initial investigation on 2011.

• Whether Essex Police should have acted sooner when investigating former deputy headteacher Martin Goldberg who hanged himself a day after he was questioned.

The paedophile worked at Thorpe Hall School, Southend, until September.

Poice found 1,500 indecent images of pupils at his home in Dalwood, Shoebury. It is thought he had been secretly filming children at the school and at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre for more than a decade.

It is believed Essex Police had information for several months and did not act on it.

 

• Whether three forces, including Essex Police, should have acted sooner after being given information about alleged paedophiles.

All were given information by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, who themselves did not act on the information for a year when they received it in 2012 from police in Canada who had discovered a paedophile database of people purchasing DVDs and videos of children.

It was not distributed until November 2013 and it is claimed Essex Police did nothing with it for many months more.

 

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “Since the announcement last week, we have received a further eight referrals from Essex Police related to the handling of child abuse investigations by their North Child Abuse Investigations Team.

“These referrals are currently being assessed by our assessment unit.”

The spokesman said several investigations are only being revealed now because the alleged victims had to be notified first about the review by Essex Police and subsequent investigations by the IPCC.

Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, still believes the public can have faith in the way Essex Police handle child abuse investigations.

He said: “I will continue to insist the investigations into the handling of child abuse investigations by our police force is fully and thoroughly reviewed.

“As the review progresses, regrettably I do not find it surprising it has identified further cases of concern and fresh referrals.

“It is distressing that the number of child abuse cases being referred has increased.

“I would stress the number of cases being investigated independently or under the management of the IPCC still remains a small proportion of the total number of such cases investigated by Essex Police each year.

“I am convinced the force is making real efforts to identify and resolve problems with the quality of child abuse investigations.

“I want the public to have confidence in Essex Police. Most cases of child abuse are investigated thoroughly and professionally. I strongly encourage anyone who feels their case may not have been properly investigated by Essex Police to contact the force on 101.

“The urgent review of child abuse investigations instigated by the Chief Constable will shortly be completed and will identify areas where Essex Police must revise their practice.

“I also hope the IPCC will quickly identify any common strands or themes where investigations could have been better conducted.

“As soon as some of these common themes or strands are identified, then any other cases displaying some or all of those elements should be proactively and rapidly reviewed by the force, and by independent experts if necessary.”