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<p>Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
is already inspecting the child protection work of every police in England and Wales
through its National Child Protection Inspections. As part of these inspections HMICFRS
will continue to inspect against forces’ awareness of and response to child sexual
abuse and exploitation, including how well the service helps and protects vulnerable
children and investigates these crimes.</p><p>The investigations in Huddersfield are
ongoing and are an operational matter for the local police. It is for the police and
Crown Prosecution Service to investigate allegations and build cases for prosecution.
These parts of the criminal justice system are independent of government and it is
a vital principle that police carry out their duties free from political interference.</p><p>It
is for the locally elected Police and Crime Commissioner to decide how best to hold
his force to account and commission a review if he considers it appropriate.</p><p>In
addition, in March 2015 the Home Office established the Independent Inquiry into Child
Sexual Abuse to consider the extent to which institutions – including the police –
have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
The Inquiry has announced an investigation examining institutional responses to the
sexual exploitation of children by organised networks.</p>
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