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Lord Janner: Victims' group demands CPS apologises for not prosecuting Lord Janner, as decision is slammed as 'wholly perverse'

The CPS said Lord Jenner is too ill to face prosecution

Kashmira Gander

Thursday 16 April 2015 20:49 BST

Veteran British Lanbour politician, Lord Greville Janner (EPA/STEFAN ZAKLIN)

The head of a group representing child abuse victims has demanded that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) apologies for deciding not to prosecute a Labour peer over historic sex abuse allegations, as a senior police officer has slammed the announcement as “wholly perverse”.

Their comments come in response to an announcement by the CPS that Lord Greville Janner, 86, will not face trial for “some of the most serious sexual crimes imaginable”.

Lord Janner was diagnosed with the dementia in 2009, and has been of formal leave of absence from the House of Lords since last October. The CPS said the “severity” of his condition meant he could not be tried.

Over a dozen people have come forward to claim that Lord Janner abused them, amid allegations he used his influence as a Labour MP for Leicester to prey on vulnerable young boys at local children's homes.

Sir Clive Loader, the Police and Commissioner for Leicestershire, who did not directly name Lord Janner despite a statement from the CPS, said an overwhelming case had been built over the course of the two-year investigation.

"This decision is not just wrong - it is wholly perverse and is contrary to any notion of natural justice. I cannot believe that any right-minded person will understand or support it.

"For decades this man is alleged to have carried out premeditated, systematic sex crimes against young boys and one girl who were in the care of the local authority," he said.

Firmly disagreeing with Alison Saunders, the Director of Public Prosecutions, who said it would neither be in best interests of the victims nor the public to launch a court case, Sir Clive said he was “absolutely clear” such actions would have helped those affected.

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

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1/10In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A campaigner holds a banner at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, during an event organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Pictures, messages and floral tributes left at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon, attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the White Flowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Child abuse campaigner Bill Maloney speaks to relatives, supporters, victims and survivors of abuse as they gather at Old Palace Yard in Westminster to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Simon Danczuk MP speaks during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

John Mann MP attends a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

A woman leaves a floral tribute at Old Palace Yard in Westminster

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Relatives, supporters and survivors of abuse hold a minutes silence during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

In pictures: White Flowers Campaign to support child abuse victims

White Flowers Campaign

Jenny Tomlin, the mother of Martine McCutcheon (left) supports Esther Grace of Cardiff, a victim and survivor of abuse, during a gathering at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, organised by the WhiteFlowers Campaign Group, to lay white flowers in commemoration of victims and survivors of child abuse

He added it was in the wider public interest that those tempted to carry out sexual crimes "are left in no doubt that they will be hunted down" and "face the strong likelihood of prosecution" without a “'sell by date'."

Peter Saunders, founder of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, mirrored Sir Clive’s concerns, and demanded that the CPS apologise for the “catalogue of mistakes” it has made while handling the case over the last 25 years.

Alluding to allegations of historic child abuse to be investigated by a public inquiry, Mr Saunders continued: "What it taps into for me, and I know many other people I've spoken to, is that it's the establishment once again that is closing ranks.

He added: "I've yet to meet anybody that hasn't been astounded by this development and decision. I can't begin to imagine the distress the many (alleged victims) will be feeling.

"I am not easily shocked, but I'm shocked at the catalogue of mistakes and errors and failings to launch a prosecution.

"It doesn't want to see a peer of the realm in a court of law charged with these very, very vicious and nasty crimes, and the CPS appears to have done its work for it."

"The acknowledgement that there was enough evidence to launch a prosecution a long time ago, but it hasn't happened.

"And now, mysteriously, it was going to happen and now it isn't happening because somebody has developed a mental health problem, does seem very, very bizarre and worrying."

Additional reporting by PA