Officer criticises lack of evidence From The Independent, Thurs 09.08.90 A POLICE expert i

                 Officer criticises lack of evidence

                 From The Independent, Thurs 09.08.90

A  POLICE  expert  in child abuse yesterday  criticised  the  lack  of 
evidence  provided  by  groups highlighting cases  of  alleged  ritual 
sexual abuse of children.

Det Insp Sylvia Aston, a policy adviser on rape and child abuse to the 
West  Midlands  Police, said: "I do not know of any persons  who  have 
given  any  information  whatsoever  to  the  police  which   remotely 
substantiates some of the claims that they make."

She  particularly  criticised claims that foetuses  had  been  induced 
before term, sacrificed and then eaten during satanic ceremonies.  Her 
comments reflect the general police scepticism.

Insp Aston said: "A simple medical examination would at least indicate 
whether  or  not the women making these claims had in fact  ever  been 
pregnant and would provide the police with a starting point." She  was 
attending  the final day of an international conference on incest  and 
abuse at Harrow in north-west London.

However,  Sue Hutchinson, founder of Safe, a helpline for  victims  of 
ritual abuse, said that such examinations would be inconclusive  since 
a  long  period  had  usually  elapsed  by  the  time  those  involved 
disclosed, during counselling, what had happened.

She  added that Safe was co-operating with one police force and  hoped 
to be able to secure forensic evidence.

Several  psychotherapists and psychiatrists have told the  Independent 
privately  of  patients speaking of teenagers who had  births  induced 
before term. These foetuses were then sacrificed, their patients said.

Insp Aston said she was worried that if claims were not supported with 
evidence they could damage other work on child abuse. "Those who claim 
to help others will discredit their own aims if they are unprepared to 
back  them with evidence. As a police officer, I keep an open mind.  I 
believe satanic abuse occurs on rare occasions. We have had a  handful 
of proven cases in the past decade."

She said she found it difficult to believe that a child would show  no 
revealing  signs of anxiety after the horrific abuse detailed by  some 
alleged victims.

Counsellors  say  that  ritually  abused  children  develop   multiple 
personalities  to block out the abuse. They may appear  normal  unless 
unintentionally triggered.

Many  have been unable to recall experiences until they had  undergone 
lengthy psychotherapy. The patients describe bodies being destroyed by 
acid or buried in existing graves.