This week, the National Crime Agency announced an update on Operation Beaconport, the major review of thousands of historic child sexual abuse cases that were closed by the police.
The review will consider cases that were deemed for ‘No Further Action’ between January 2010 - March 2025, potentially affecting tens-of-thousands of people across the country.
PCD Solicitors are specialists in defending false allegations of sexual offences, and have represented many clients accused of historic and organised child sexual abuse. Our team has developed the capacity to respond to Operation Beaconport through advising those whose investigations may be re-opened, and advocating to safeguard the interests of our clients and promote the fairness of the criminal justice system. This also includes discreet pre-investigation representation for those who are concerned that their case is being reviewed, even if it has not yet been formally re-opened.
On the operation and our firm’s response, Marcus Johnstone, solicitor and managing director, said:
‘Considering the damage the grooming gangs scandal has had on public trust in the criminal justice system, it is completely right that the authorities review the way they have handled organised child sexual abuse in the past. Seeking justice for victims and addressing failings by the authorities is a priority, and I support this as a much-needed step.
What this cannot mean is the re-opening of investigations that were correctly marked as No Further Action simply for the sake of it, or the pushing of poor or unsubstantiated claims to court to conceal procedural errors made by the police and the CPS. Quite simply, our criminal justice system does not have the capacity or the right to do so.
Our firm has handled a great many historic child sex abuse cases, and are experts in sexual offences like organised sexual abuse. In many of these cases, we have secured excellent outcomes that include acquittals at trial or the early resolution of police investigations before charge.
We remain prepared to support clients who believe that they have been falsely accused, or treated unfairly by the criminal justice system.’
PCD Solicitors are a nationwide criminal defence firm, specialising in defending false allegations of sexual offences. Our team are experts in managing historic and organised child sexual abuse cases, and can be contacted here.