Bluewater gang rape: WHY were the public kept in the dark by police?

CLAIMS of a cover-up have been levelled at police after a woman was allegedly gang raped in the grounds of Bluewater shopping centre.

On Mother’s Day more than SIX WEEKS AGO a young woman says she was sexually assaulted in the vast carpark at the mall in Kent.

Formerly Britain’s largest, the sprawling shopping centre is home to numerous CCTV cameras, and is visited by millions each year.

Between 7pm and 8.30pm on March 6, the woman, in her 20s, claims she was bundled into the back of a van and gang-raped by seven men, in an ordeal which could have lasted up to three hours.

Police only provided details on Wednesday this week – including that a number of men had been arrested but released on bail — but the information begged many, many more questions.

Reporters at Express.co.uk persisted to ask relevant, legitimate questions on behalf of the public, yet time after time they were stonewalled.

The questions were those already being raised both within the community and on social media and included:

· Why did it take so long for police to release details of a deeply serious sexual assault at a shopping centre used by huge numbers of shoppers each year?

· And were the men British or foreign born?

All were legitimate questions which could have been cleared up by Kent Police answering promptly and accurately to allay public fears and suspicion.

I’m absolutely stunned personally that this could happen at Bluewater given the very visible security that they have there
Keith Kelly, Greenhithe councillor
TWO days after our reporters first started asking the questions Kent Police's media office began dribbled out more information.

Kent County Councillor Penny Cole said: “It’s a question… why didn’t we know?

“It definitely should have come out sooner.

“As a local councillor I would have liked to have known about it and I think residents will be concerned about it.”

Initially the police revealed 11 men had been arrested in connection with the attack.

Following pressure, more information dribbled out; they were all men, they were aged between 16-22 and they were all from Kent.

A spokesman said the group were “promptly identified”.

One of the men has been released without charge, and the remainder are on police bail.

And questions persisted, with fears growing England may have witnessed its first Cologne-style sex attack carried out by migrants and community fears of a police cover-up.

This, together with persistent questioning from journalists and members of the public finally led the police to confirm it was not a Cologne-style sex attack as some feared, and forced the police to reveal additional details.

A spokesman said: “Due to the widespread attention this incident has received, investigating officers can confirm that all the 11 men who were arrested are white, English and non-Muslim.”

They added it was believed to be an “isolated incident", and no others were being linked to the attack at this time.

Greenhithe councillor, Keith Kelly, who represents the area Bluewater is in, said he was “absolutely horrified” to hear of the attack.

He said: “I’m absolutely stunned personally that this could happen at Bluewater given the very visible security that they have there.

“The fact that allegedly someone could be snatched off the street into a van horrifies me.

“Until the story broke I certainly wasn’t aware, I haven’t spoken to any of my colleagues at Dartford or Stone if they knew, certainly I didn’t.

“Six weeks is quite surprising. I was disappointed to read they were on bail.”

He said his thoughts were with the victim, before adding: “We do unfortunately get some people who want to draw parallels along race or religion.”

Kent Police said it was not standard practice to release someone's ethnicity in any case, but it was necessary “due to inaccurate information that was circulating”.

Of course, a prompt, clear and accurate release to the media in the first place would have prevented and “inaccurate information”.

The press office stated: “We appreciate the public concern in relation to this incident but would like to reassure members of the public that we have made arrests and at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case.

“A full investigation is underway and work to gather evidence continues, but if anyone has any information that they have not brought to our attention we would encourage them to do so.”

If you have information call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.