Detectives are reporting a massive rise in the number of reported child abuse linked to witchcraft, they said today.
Scotland
Yard has received 27 allegations of ritual child abuse this year alone -
a dramatic increase on a decade ago, when just two such cases were
reported to police in the whole of 2004.
Examples
of the faith-based abuse include a child being dunked in a bath to
'wash away evil spirits', children being raped, and a pastor swinging a
child around banging its head to 'drive out the devil'.
Now
teachers, social workers and doctors are to be taught to spot the signs
of the abuse in a drive to tackle the growing problem across Britain.
Police say witchcraft-based child abuse is on the rise - this shows an alleged exorcism ceremony in London
Last
month police were called to a leisure centre in south London after
residents reported a string of dawn 'child exorcisms' in which adults
surrounded a toddler chanting 'Get the demon out'.
A
number of child killings have been linked to these beliefs, including
the murder of Kristy Bamu, 15, who was tortured and drowned by his
sister and her boyfriend in 2010; and the death of Victoria Climbie.
The
number of cases of ritualistic or faith-based abuse of children
reported to Scotland Yard has increased year-on-year over the past
decade. But detectives believe the number of reports is just the tip of
the iceberg, with many more such cases being kept secret among
communities.
Police
and child protection experts have now created a training film for all
front-line professionals who work with children to teach them how to
recognise the signs that a child may be suffering, or likely to suffer
harm from witchcraft.
The
DVD will be launched at a conference on the subject in London today,
organised by the Met police and the Churches' Child Protection Advisory
Service (CCPAS), before being distributed to those in the force area who
work with children who may be affected.
Detective
Superintendent Terry Sharpe, head of the Met's Project Violet which
tackles faith-based child abuse, said: 'Abuse linked to belief is a
horrific crime which is condemned by people of all cultures, communities
and faiths.
'Families
or carers genuinely believe that the victim has been completely taken
over by the devil or an evil spirit, which is often supported by someone
who within the community has portrayed themselves as an authority on
faith and belief.'
This alleged exorcism ceremony,
performed on the street in south London, did not involve children but
police say child abuse linked to faith-based rituals is on the rise and
professionals must learn to recognise the signs
'But
regardless of the beliefs of the abusers, child abuse is child abuse
and it is important that professional are clear about the signs to look
for.'
At
the event at City Hall, detectives will debate with teachers, social
workers and healthcare professionals to discuss how to tackle what is
now a growing problem in Britain.
In
2004 just two such cases were reported to Scotland Yard. By 2009 it
had risen to seven, and by 2012 it had risen again to 19.
Among
this year's 27 reports of such abuse, cases included a child forced to
drink unknown substances to 'rid them of evil spirits' and parents
removing their children from school and taking them abroad to attend an
'exorcism' ceremony.
One case has already resulted in an arrest for rape, and another in a charge of rape being brought.
Previous
cases dealt with by Scotland Yard include a child having chillies
rubbed into its eyes to 'remove an evil spirit' and being cut with a
knife for the same reason.
EXTREME CASES OF RITUAL CHILD ABUSE THAT RESULTED IN DEATHS
Extreme cases have seen children killed as a result of these rituals.
In 2000 Victoria Climbié,
an eight year old originally from the Côte d'Ivoire who lived in
Haringey, north London, was tortured and murdered by her guardians who
believed she was possessed by an evil spirit.
The
belief, which was supported by their church leaders, led to her being
beaten, burned with cigarettes, and forced to sleep in a bin liner in a
bath before she was killed.
Victoria Climbié, eight, and Kristy Bamu, 15, were murdered by relatives who thought they were possessed
Victoria's
aunt and adoptive mother, Marie Therese Kouao, then 44, and her
boyfriend Carl Manning, 28, were both sentenced to life imprisonment for
Victoria's murder.
In 2010, 15-year-old Kristy Bamu was
tortured and beaten before he drowned in a bath at his sister's flat in
east London after his sister and her boyfriend became convinced he was
possessed by 'kindoki', or witchcraft, and was trying to harm or control
another child in the family.
Magalie
Bamu, then 29, and her partner Eric Bikubi, 28, were jailed for life in
2012 after they were convicted of Kristy's murder.
And
in 2001, the torso of a young boy, named Adam by police, was found
floating in the Thames. It is believed he may have been the victim of a
ritual sacrifice practised in parts of Africa.
Simon
Bass from the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service said: 'We are
not remotely surprised that the Metropolitan Police alone has already
received 27 referrals of this type this year - or three a month.
'We
are pleased that the Metropolitan Police has undertaken such great work
in this area, but we are convinced that this form of abuse is hidden,
and that the statutory agencies across the UK are facing similar
situations.'
Abuse
survivor Kevani Kanda said: 'Mass migration has made this a pervasive
problem worldwide, and it is not confined to cities or areas where there
are large migrant communities.
'Belief-related abuse can result in significant physical and emotional harm, neglect, sexual abuse and even death.'
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