IPCC critical of Sweeney case

IPCC Wales Commissioner Tom Davies has criticised the speed with which South Wales Police responded to the abduction of a child by convicted paedophile Craig Sweeney.

The IPCC has recommended that certain officers face a misconduct panel.

Mr Davies said: “While the investigation considered there may have been potential to go to Sweeney`s home sooner, it found insufficient evidence to substantiate the claim that this would have prevented the serious sexually assault that took place there.”

Speaking of the officers’ actions, Mr Davies added: “Everyone makes mistakes but for the police these can have huge consequences as we have made clear today”.

He has referred the conduct of officers to the chief constable.

“It will be for the chief constable to balance the expectations South Wales Police would require of officers with this level of seniority and experience against the circumstances described above in terms of the incident and the practices prevailing at the time.”

Chief Constable Barbara Wilding said the report`s recommendations would be carefully considered.

The recommendations for South Wales Police are:

• Immediate action to sharpen and clarify their policies on dealing with this type of incident.
• Improve awareness at appropriate levels through training and live exercise of procedures for these policies.
• Consider methods of improving the access appropriate personnel have to the intelligence systems whilst dealing with such incidents.

Recommendations to ACPO, and her Majesty`s Inspectorate of Constabulary:

• Consideration that they revisit policies and monitoring of the systems dealing with registered sex offenders.