A public awareness campaign was launched Wednesday to fight crimes committed under the disguise of witchcraft, British officials said. Recent years have seen a steep rise in the number of ritual child abuse cases being committed and investigated in Britain.
A total of 27 cases of abuse were reported this year, up from 24 in 2013 and 19 in 2012, the Metropolitan Police in London said, describing the strange allegations to be from youngsters being dunked in water to children being swung around by the feet and having their heads smacked "to drive out the devil," BBC News reported.
On Thursday, talks were held by officers from project Violet, the faith-related child abuse police unit, to alert teachers, community leaders, social care professionals and health workers of warnings that might point towards signs of abuse carried out with the belief that it will drive away evil spirits.
"It's vastly under-reported," said Detective Superintendent Terry Sharpe, Project Violet leader, adding that most cases seem to originate from African Christian and Muslim communities.
"Abuse linked to belief is a horrific crime which is condemned by people of all cultures, communities and faiths. A number of high-profile investigations brought the issue of ritual abuse and witchcraft into the headlines, but it is important that professionals are clear about the signs to look for," he continued.
Some families genuinely believed the victim had been "taken over" by the devil or an "evil spirit," he said.
"Regardless of the beliefs of the abusers, child abuse is child abuse," he said.
A number of child killings have been linked to these beliefs, including the murder of Kristy Bamu, 15, who was tortured and drowned by his sister and her boyfriend in 2010; and the murder of 8-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000 after her great aunt and her partner believed her to have been possessed.
Former victim and documentary maker Kevani Kanda accused powerful pastors for turning parents against their children. "They (pastors) have so much power and influence in the community and there are rogue pastors who abuse it," she said.
But with the launch of the awareness program by the Metropolitan police, Kanda said the police were the victim's best hope in being saved, according to Agence France-Presse.
"Children accused of being witches are not likely to tell their teacher because for someone like myself it was normal, it was what I heard every day," Kanda said. "When I was put in foster placement I was screaming, crying and I was scared. It wasn't normal for me to sit on the sofa, I had to sit the floor like dog. It wasn't normal for me to sit at a table with my family and eat, I was always handed a piece of bread."
Meanwhile, Simon Bass from the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service said, "We are not remotely surprised that the Metropolitan Police alone has already received 27 referrals of this type this year - or three a month. We are pleased that the Metropolitan Police has undertaken such great work in this area, but we are convinced that this form of abuse is hidden, and that the statutory agencies across the UK are facing similar situations."
