The National Crime Agency is conducting additional enquiries into missing files related to a trafficking investigation after a GB News investigation revealed fresh concerns.
The missing files relate to a survivor from the Rotherham grooming gangs scandal who was trafficked across the country.
Elizabeth, not her real name, was taken from Rotherham to Bristol by two men who were involved in her exploitation.
A full report on the ordeal was produced by workers at Rush House, the supported accommodation where Elizabeth lived at the time.
Elizabeth, not her real name, was taken from Rotherham to Bristol by two men who were involved in her exploitation
GB News
She was interviewed for details about what happened during the trafficking.
“I told them everything. The number plate of the car, the nicknames of the men, where they picked me up and where we went. They had all the details about the incident and what happened," she said.
GB News understands that Rush House reported the incident to South Yorkshire Police, who failed to progress the case. A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found in 2022 that the force totally failed in its duties during the Rotherham atrocity.
The National Crime Agency later took on responsibility for investigating child sexual exploitation allegations in the town from 1997 to 2013.
Officers were able to identify the men who trafficked her and they were later charged.
However, Elizabeth’s files were not recovered. Later, a whistleblower from Rush House allegedly went to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to express concerns about files being moved to council facilities.
Last month, this broadcaster revealed an email sent by a senior council representative to that whistleblower in January 2016 confirming that an external investigator would be appointed to assess the concerns they had raised.
They added: “I can’t say much more at this stage, and I am sure someone will be in touch once the investigation gets underway.”
GB News understands that no one from the council got in touch after this email was sent.
RMBC told GB News that despite the email giving confirmation that an external investigation would be launched, it had no record of any investigation.
The council also said it was unable to access old emails because they are automatically deleted when an employee leaves the organisation. The assistant director who sent the email “confirming” the investigation has since left the council.
GB News understands that an NCA senior investigating officer has since reviewed all of the original lines of enquiry regarding attempts to locate Elizabeth’s missing Rush House file.
An NCA spokesman said: “We can confirm we are conducting additional enquiries relating to a specific victim as a result of information received.”
