Report in Daily Mail, Wednesday, June 27, 1990
By-lined by Andrew Loudon
 
                   PREACHERS HELD IN CHILD SEX SWOOP
 
SEVENTEEN people were arrested yesterday by police investigating
child sex abuse and devil worship.
 
They included preachers, a teacher, an education authority offical
and company directors.
 
Married couples were among those held and at least eight children
aged between six and 15 were taken into council care.
 
Police refused to comment on claims that aborted foetuses had been
used in satanic rituals but Detective Superintendent Albert Kirby,
who led the Merseyside Police operation, said: "We may have to dig up
gardens."
 
The investigation began shortly before Christmas when allegations of
child sex abuse came to light in Liverpool and neighbouring Knowsley.
 
Children told social workers that their parents and other adults had
committed sordid and degrading acts against them during satanic
rites.
 
The preachers allegedly involved with the pederasts belong to
non-established churches and it was in their premises that much of
the abuse is said to have place.
 
The inquiry - codenamed Operation Clementine - was carried out at
7am by 97 police officers working with 15 social workers from the two
local authorities. It led to simultaneous raids at homes in Kirkby
and Cantril Farm in Knowsley and in Kensington and other inner-city
areas of Liverpool.
 
Mr Kirby said last night: "Throughout this operation there has been
close co-operation between the police and social services to ensure
that the interests of the children remain paramount."
 
The NSPCC has been calling on child care profesionals to take
youngsters more seriously when they complain of sexual abuse by
satanic groups.
 
Spokesman Pam Tinsley said: "Children tend to be disbelieved. But
when we surveyed our 66 child protection teams this year, seven were
investigating ritualistic abuse and 14 more suspected cults were
involved in abuse."
 
+ends JW+
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