Young boys 'were victims of abuse' by Sir Cyril Smith
Police have acknowledged for the first time that the late politician Cyril Smith sexually and physically abused young boys in the 1960s. Smith, who was elected to Parliament in 1972, was dogged by rumours of abuse throughout his career but charges were never brought.
Both Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service said if Smith had been accused today he would be charged and prosecuted.
Our UK Editor Lucy Manning looks at the case.
It means police and the CPS are now admitting three missed opportunities to prosecute Cyril Smith while he was alive and are now saying they should have done so.
In a statement tonight Greater Manchester Police said:
This is the full sequence of past events:
On 11 March 1970, a file was submitted to the then Director of Public Prosecutions following a thorough investigation in 1969 by Lancashire Police, which detailed allegations from eight young people at Cambridge House Hostel about indecent assaults committed by Sir Cyril Smith
On 19 March 1970, the DPP recommended no further action be taken
In February 1998, another Force were conducting a review of care homes in their area and referred a complaint to GMP that was made by one of the original complainants of the 1969 inquiry who was unhappy with the result. This complaint was recorded and investigated by GMP as part of a wider investigation into care homes in Greater Manchester, and a file of evidence was submitted to the CPS for a review
In June 1998 GMP was advised no further action would be taken
In March 1999, a second file was sent to the CPS by GMP following two further complaints that were made about Smith's actions at Cambridge House Hostel between 1962-1965. Again, no further action was recommended by the CPS
Earlier this month Rochdale's current MP Simon Danczuk told the House of Commons that a full investigation was needed into the allegations of abuse.
The Liberal Democrats have described the allegations against former Liberal MP Sir Cyril Smith "abhorrent" and insisted that the party has "never been involved in any allegations":
Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk says Cyril Smith's victims have been let down by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions.