Yeovil Police Fail to Interview Pedophile Geoffrey Highfield Despite Evidence
Residents of Yeovil are expressing deep concern and outrage after it emerged that local police failed to interview known pedophile Geoffrey Highfield of Rowan Way, Yeovil despite possessing evidence against him. This alarming revelation has raised questions about the commitment of law enforcement to protecting children and pursuing justice for victims of child sex offenses.
The situation has been further exacerbated by recent reports that BBC Newsreader Huw Edwards was not initially charged or interviewed by the Metropolitan Police, adding to the public's frustration and distrust in the handling of such serious matters.
Local community members are disturbed that pedophiles like Highfield are not being interrogated, a process that could lead to confessions and the uncovering of additional offenses. The apparent lack of action by Yeovil Police is seen as a grave oversight, potentially allowing dangerous individuals to evade accountability and continue posing a threat to vulnerable children.
It appears that the Yeovil Police Force, didn't feel the need to interview Highfield due to the fact it was a historic spate of crimes and that due to his age and the fact he lived alone and not around children, was reasoning not to interview him.
It's a surprising course of action considering police forces have urged victims to come forward however historic locally - In a recent case by neighbouring Dorset Police after a prosecution of a Yeovil resident, Detective Constable George Boast, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said:
“For these victims to come forward and report these offences to police has taken immense bravery on their part and they have also shown strength and courage to support the subsequent investigation and court process.
“I hope this will inspire other victims of sexual offences, including non-recent sexual abuse, to come forward and report matters in the knowledge that they will be supported and we will take action.
“Glyn Phelps subjected two girls to horrific abuse at a young age and we have now been able to seek justice for these victims and hold him to account for his offending behaviour.”
Although in Yeovil, where Highfield resides and committed years of sexual abuse and rape on an under age child, it appears that an interview of the reported sex offender is not warranted.
DC Yana Glover, wrote to one of Highfield's victims who had made the complaint after reading the comments of DC Boast, stating :
Does not meet the evidential test because your statement is the only evidence available to the police. ***** will not give any evidence about this, and anything that she has told a third party would be hearsay evidence and therefore not strong admissible evidence.
Does not meet the public interest test. **** is a victim of sexual assault. We want to protect victims of serious offences and so are respecting her wishes by not seeking evidence from her. This offence is over 40 years old, and Mr HIGHFIELD’s risk has been assessed as being low due to his age, and the fact that he has not come to light with the police other than for this, he also lives alone and not with children.
The complainant, who the police admitted also had crimes committed against them by Highfield where he could be charged, is understood to be taking civil action against Highfield, whilst having lost full faith in the Yeovil Police Force, telling Yeovil Real News:
' Obviously the police appeal by DC Boast clearly doesn't relate to Yeovil, How long does it take to interview an historic sex offender? The failure to do so, where he could have possibly confessed with the correct questioning based on the evidence supplied to me is outrageous, Highfield not to even be interviewed to me demonstrates that Yeovil police are not capable of investigating serious crimes professionally. Have an argument with your partner, the police will pull you in and interview you, but sexually abuse a child it appears not - surely the art of interview is to get an offender to confess to their crimes and then present to the Crown Prosecution Service?'
The victim of Highfield then said:
' As DC Boast said, all child sex offenders should be brought to justice, it's clear that Yeovil police are not even interested by not even taking Highfield in for questioning, I'm now taking civil action against Highfield and will never let this rest until he's brought to justice.
' Surely too, it's in the public interest to register every child sex offender at least? - how the police can say it's not in the public interest fathoms me.'
As the community grapples with this unsettling news, calls for greater transparency and accountability within the police force are growing louder. Residents are demanding that law enforcement take immediate and decisive action to address these failings and ensure that justice is served for all victims of child sex offenses.