‘Report sons to police if they are guilty of abuse’
Chief constable’s plea
SCHOOLS and colleges are braced for a flood of sex abuse allegations as thousands of pupils and students share their stories.
More than 8,300 “survivor testimonies” had been published by yesterday on a website set up to “eradicate rape culture”.
But the woman who started Everyone’s Invited – where youngsters can share experiences of misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault anonymously – said the scandal was not isolated to seats of learning, and claimed “rape culture” was everywhere.
The crisis prompted a chief constable to urge parents to shop sons they suspect of abuse.
Simon Bailey, head of Norfolk Constabulary and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, said: “If [they] are aware their son or daughter has been a victim of abuse then come forward.
“If you are aware your son has been responsible for a sexual assault then I think you should be taking [him] to the police and saying: ‘Look, I’ve now become aware that this is what my son has done’.
“I think there is a real issue for society. I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind about that.
Deluge
“The ready and easy access to pornography is a driver to that, the sexualisation of women is a driver to that. In the minds of some people it is acceptable to treat young women in particular in a manner we are now seeing disclosed on the website.”
The deluge of stories came after allegations about several top independent schools, many of which are named on the site.
Soma Sara, founder of Everyone’s Invited, said: “Rape culture is endemic. It’s in all parts of society including all universities and all schools.
“Seeing this long-overdue discussion being narrowed down to private schools is disappointing.”
Soma said there had been a 33 per cent increase in testimonies from the state education sector and a 44 per cent rise in tales from universities since March 9.
Leading private schools in London including Dulwich College, King’s College School and Latymer Upper School have been the subject of allegations.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson called the claims of abuse “shocking and abhorrent”.
He added: “Any victim of these sickening acts that we’ve seen reported should raise their concerns with someone they trust, whether that’s a family member or friend, a teacher, social worker or the police. We will take appropriate action.
“No school – whether an independent or state school – should ever be an environment where young people feel unsafe, let alone somewhere that sexual abuse can take place.”
Magdalen College School in Oxford – which has boys aged between seven and 18 plus girls in the sixth form – was also named on the website. Helen Pike, its Master, said: “We heard [about the accounts] just over a fortnight ago and it was really upsetting. I was hoping whomever it is had spoken to us and was ok. “I was worried young people were taking to Instagram when I would hope they would seek professional support, which includes from schools. “We have a duty of care to investigate, so we immediately contacted the Oxfordshire safeguarding team for their view, but the fact [the claims] are anonymous and un
dated does make this extremely challenging for us.
“The influences of alcohol and pornography and expectations around what sex is are really challenging.
“We spend a great deal of time in school educating pupils on consent right from junior school.
Boundaries
“We are really trying to foster a culture of respect, good boundaries and sensible decision making right from the age of seven.
“We are only ever as good as our information, so the Holy Grail here is getting lines of communication open, bridging the gap between what we say and what pupils hear.”
Ms Pike called on parents and schools “to work together to get an insight into what is going on in teen social media, particularly at gatherings when adults aren’t around”.
She added: “We have seen an extraordinary response to the inquiry into sexual violence against women and from students to the [regulator]
Ofqual grades consultation survey. We have got their attention so if we ask the right questions we may learn some answers to things that have been troubling us for some years.” Bosses at private Highgate School in north London have begun an investigation. A spokesman said staff were “deeply shocked by the testimonies on Everyone’s Invited and elsewhere”. Former judge Dame Anne Rafferty will lead the review. Writing in the Daily Express, Robert Halfon
MP, chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee, urged a wholesale review of safeguarding and more regular inspections from a single body, Ofsted.
The Government said it was “very concerned” by the allegations on the website.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We want victims to have the confidence to report crimes and be comforted in knowing that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.
“A police helpline will be set up in due course to ensure victims can access advice and support.”