Sir Cyril Smith Was Referred To Prosecutors Over Obscene Publications And Bribery Allegations

Allegations Over Bribery And Obscene Publications Made Against Cyril Smith

Separate historic allegations over obscene publications and bribery surrounding late politician Sir Cyril Smith were passed to prosecutors, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday.

Last month Greater Manchester Police said they publicly acknowledged - amid "overwhelming evidence" - that the former Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale sexually and physically abused young boys in the 1960s.

No charges were ever brought against Sir Cyril Smith

The announcement was made as it was revealed that three separate files regarding Sir Cyril's actions were passed to first the director of public prosecutions (DPP) in March 1970 and later the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the late 1990s, although on each occasion no prosecution was pursued.

Sir Cyril was secretary of the Rochdale Hostel for Boys Association and was accused of abusing eight youngsters at Cambridge House hostel by spanking and touching them.

The CPS, established in 1986, has since searched its records of the then DPP's office and today said it found two further police referrals relating to Sir Cyril.

In the early 1970s a file was received on Sir Cyril, then aged 42, over an allegation or allegations relating to indecent obscene publications.

In the early 1980s another was file was submitted over a claim or claims relating to the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889. That former piece of legislation outlawed the bribery of a member, officer or a servant of a public body.

The CPS said it could not determine though the extent of either of the allegations and what, if any, action was taken.

In a statement, the CPS said: "No further detail or information is contained in the records and there are no files in our possession which relate to them. We are therefore unable to determine the detail of the offences, the extent and credibility of any evidence or if any action was taken."

It said the referrals were now being made public "in the interests of openness and transparency".

Following the announcement that Sir Cyril would be charged and prosecuted if he had been accused today over Cambridge House, it emerged he was also linked to similar allegations at a council-run school for vulnerable children.

One of two recent complaints made to GMP about Sir Cyril is in relation to Knowl View School in Rochdale which closed in 1992.

The force had previously investigated his involvement with the school but no claims of sexual abuse were made against him at the time.

Chris Marshall, 40, waived his anonymity as he told the Manchester Evening News he was forced to perform a sex act on Sir Cyril - known as "the fat man" - when he was aged seven or eight at Knowl View.

Rochdale Council is trawling through its manual files on Knowl View and will pass on any relevant information to the police, who have encouraged anyone else who was a victim of Sir Cyril to come forward.

The current Rochdale MP, Labour's Simon Danczuk, who brought the Cambridge House allegations to light in the House of Commons last month, said he believes Sir Cyril went on to abuse more boys after it was decided not to prosecute him in the 1970s.

Sir Cyril died two years ago at the age of 82.

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