Police build bridges to ‘free victims from shackles of crimes’

THE DETECTIVE leading a renewed effort to combat child sex abuse in Manchester’s Jewish community has praised the courage of victims.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Clitherow, of Greater Manchester Police’s Salford borough, said the jailing this week of Isaak Goldschmidt on more than a dozen charges was “only down to the courageous decisions the victims in this case have made”.

Their bravery meant officers had “been able to remove him from society and do everything we can to protect and support them”.

Det Ch Insp Clitherow said the case should “send a message” to abuse victims that officers would treat “every report with the utmost severity to ensure the right people are behind bars and their victims are freed from the shackles of their crimes”.

He said police had received a “flurry of information” after the investigation and conviction of Todros Grynhaus, a member of Salford’s Charedi community who was jailed for more than 13 years in 2015 for molesting two teenage girls.

David Glausiusz was jailed for 22 years in April for sexual abuse and beatings against children as young as seven, while another man, Daniel Golomb, 44, faces a trial in January after denying 12 counts of indecent assault on an underage boy.

A wider investigation into abuse in the Manchester Jewish community, Operation Parachute, was opened in the wake of Grynhaus’s trial.

Det Ch Insp Clitherow told the JC case had been a “catalyst”.

“Then we had a little bit more visibility within the community because of the way we were dealing with it, so we end up building positive relationships with people.

“Once we start getting a bit of confidence about how we operate, and our professionalism and that we will thoroughly investigate allegations, and that we’re here for the good of the children — the word will very quickly spread through the community.

“I do think we’ve got quite a way to go, but the foundations are in place from these good results and from what we’re trying to achieve through Parachute — which is that both parties understand each other.”

Det Ch Insp Clitherow said the “insular” nature of the strictly Orthodox community presented a greater challenge to uncover abuse, but officers were “working hard and making progress” in building relationships with the community and its leaders.

Jonny Wineberg, chief executive of Manchester’s Jewish Representative Council, welcomed the efforts of police. He said: “It is imperative we have confidence in the police to address abuse and that people are encouraged and supported from within the Jewish community to bring their concerns forward.”

Mr Wineberg said the Rep Council applauded the strength of the victims who came forward to ensure Goldschmidt was convicted.

“We hope that the survivors of this abuse feel that justice has been served and that they are able to move on with their lives and heal, with the assistance of any appropriate therapy.”

Backing Det Ch Insp Clitherow’s calls for other abuse victims to come forward, Mr Wineberg said all forms of child abuse in the Jewish community in Manchester were “deplorable”.

“It is the responsibility of all members of our community to report to the authorities any suspicions that they may have of abuse taking place against any child or vulnerable adult,” he said.

“Children and young people have the right to enjoy a safe and enjoyable environment and all communities must be educated on how to create this and prevent abuse. By talking about child sexual abuse we remove the fear and shame, and give perpetrators nowhere to hide.”

Officers are working hard and making progress’