Police chief hits back after accusations of ‘cover-up' regarding rape suspects
It comes after Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage and Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch claimed there had been a 'cover up' after police charged the two men, who are Afghan asylum seekers.
In a letter to the Home Secretary and Warwickshire Police's chief constable, Mr Finch, the youngest council leader in the country, claimed that not publicising the pair's immigration status 'risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire'.
Responding to Mr Finch, Mr Franklin-Smith wrote that the force 'did not and will not' cover up alleged criminality.
'I am confident that Warwickshire Police has treated this investigation seriously from the outset working tirelessly to identify, locate, arrest and charge those suspected of being responsible for this awful crime as quickly as possible.'
Of the suspects, he wrote: 'The immigration status of Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir is now public knowledge, having been placed into the public domain by yourself.
'In light of that, I have asked the Home Office to confirm the full immigration status of Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir as per the information we shared with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts as part of this case.'
Of a conversation he and Mr Finch had on July 31, Mr Franklin-Smith wrote: 'You informed me you had already received a confidential briefing from your chief executive and that you knew the person charged was an asylum seeker.
'I confirmed this was accurate and we wouldn't be releasing immigration status at point of charge as we follow national guidance.
'I explained the information would become public knowledge as part of the court process and that all partners must ensure we are prepared to manage any potential protest and/or disorder at that stage.
'I explained we had a police gold commander leading the overall response to this case and that the communications plan agreed by them followed consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.
'I also explained we had briefed the Home Office.
'To be clear, I cannot tell elected individuals what to do.'
Following the reported attack in Nuneaton, Mulakhil, 23, was arrested on July 26 and charged the next day with rape, according to police.
Mulakhil appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court last Monday and has been remanded in custody.
Kabir, 23, was arrested in Nuneaton on Thursday and charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting rape of a girl under 13, the force added.
Kabir appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Saturday and has been remanded in custody.
The issue of how much information is revealed by police regarding suspects has been the subject of fierce debate following a string of high-profile cases including the Southport killings last year.
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said 'we do think more transparency is needed' in the information given by police and that 'guidance needs to change'.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, a Home Office spokesperson said: 'As the Home Secretary said this morning, it has been widely reported that this case involves two Afghan individuals who are in the asylum system, some of which information has already been confirmed in open court.
'The Home Secretary has made clear that there is a strong public interest in maximum transparency wherever that is possible.
'That is why the Home Office and College of Policing are working together to strengthen and clarify the guidance around how and when information is released.'
Warwickshire Police previously said they do not believe anyone else was involved in the reported rape but are continuing to appeal for witnesses who may have information that could assist inquiries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
18 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Potential victims of modern slavery at record high, latest figures show
There were 5,690 people referred between April and June this year – a 7% increase on the previous three-month period and a 32% rise from the same quarter last year. Data published earlier this year showed a record high for the whole of 2024, when a total of 19,125 potential victims in the UK were referred to the Home Office, up from 16,990 the previous year. The latest Government data, published on Thursday, gives figures for the three months from April to June 2025. The Home Office said the 5,690 potential victims of modern slavery referred in the latest three-month period is the highest in a single quarter since the national referral mechanism (NRM) began in 2009. To access support and have recognition of their circumstances in the UK, victims of slavery and human trafficking have to be assessed under the NRM. People of UK nationality were the most commonly referred to the NRM, the Government said, accounting for 23% of referrals. The figure – 1,286 – was the highest number of referrals for UK nationals in a quarter since the NRM began. The next most common nationalities were Eritrean (accounting for 11% or 641 people) and Vietnamese (also making up 11% or 599 people). Almost three-quarters of all referrals were male – 74% – while 26% were female. Among child referrals, 79% (or 1,364) were boys while 20% (or 351) were girls. The Home Office said in the latest quarter males most often reported criminal or labour exploitation while females most often reported sexual exploitation. For the most recent period, 457 county lines referrals were flagged, of which the majority were for boys. There were 11,547 cases which had been issued a positive initial decision, known as a reasonable grounds decision, but were awaiting a final conclusive grounds decision. This was down from 14,075 at the end of the previous quarter and 23,586 cases at the end of June 2024. The Government has vowed to clear the backlog of cases awaiting a conclusive grounds decision by December 2026. The average (median) time cases had to await a conclusive grounds decision once the initial reasonable grounds decision was issued stood at 304 days at the end of June, down from a 474-day wait at the end of the previous quarter. Independent anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons argued the system as it stands is not working for victims. She said: 'Today's figures show that a record numbers of victims of modern slavery are being exploited on our streets and in our communities. 'Shockingly, a record number of young boys are being exploited and more UK nationals are victims of modern slavery than ever before. 'Against this backdrop of rising exploitation, the system that should identify and support victims is not working, victims have lost trust in it, there are long delays for victims, and there is poor decision-making. 'This must change. Government must act to making tackling modern slavery a priority, supported with proper funding and a strategy. Victims of modern slavery deserve more, we must act now to support the increasing number of victims, children and UK nationals being exploited.' The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
Rhyl Journal
44 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
First migrants detained under ‘one in, one out' deal as PM vows to secure border
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government was prepared to defend itself against legal challenges if migrants seek to avoid being sent back across the English Channel. The migrants detained were among those who risked the Channel crossing on Wednesday, the day the pilot scheme began operating. The first small boat migrants have been detained under our landmark UK-France returns deal. This is what happens next 👇 — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 7, 2025 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'We have detained the first illegal migrants under our new deal before returning them to France. No gimmicks, just results. 'If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it.' The pilot scheme was set up as part of a deal announced by the Prime Minister and French president Mr Macron during his state visit to the UK in July. UK officials aim to make referrals for returns to France within three days of a migrant's arrival by small boat while French authorities will respond within 14 days. This is in exchange for an approved asylum seeker in France to be brought to the UK under a safe route. No figures have been confirmed for how many migrants will be sent back, although reports from France have suggested it could be around 50 a week, a small fraction of the numbers making the crossing in small boats. The Home Secretary said: 'The pilot has now begun, so the first migrants who have arrived on the small boats are now in detention. We will then swiftly make the referrals to France and that process will now start to be able to return people to France. 'It's the beginning of the pilot and it will build as well over time, but we're also clear that France is a safe country, so we will robustly defend against any legal challenge that people try. 'We do expect for people to start being returned in a matter of weeks.' The Home Office is expected to launch a campaign in the coming days to make migrants in northern France and elsewhere aware of the new treaty. Ms Cooper added: 'Criminal gangs have spent seven years embedding themselves along our border and it will take time to unravel them, but these detentions are an important step towards undermining their business model and unravelling the false promises they make.' The Home Secretary has acknowledged the accord is not a 'silver bullet' to stop small boat crossings, which are running at record levels so far in 2025. But the Government hopes it will be a turning point as migrants will be sent back across the Channel for the first time. The process for asylum seekers to come to the UK under the 'one in, one out' pilot scheme has also been launched, with adults and families in France able to express an interest in coming to the UK through an online platform set up by the Home Office. They will have to meet suitability criteria, a standard visa application process and security checks. If accepted, they would be given three months in the UK to claim asylum or apply for a visa, and would be subject to the same rules for all asylum seekers not allowed to work, study or have access to benefits. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said just a 'token handful' of migrants had been detained and suggested the pilot scheme would fail. He said: 'Keir Starmer's promise last year to 'smash the gangs' has turned out to be nothing more than a gimmick that didn't work, and this is just the same. 'They are detaining a token handful of arrivals and in return we accept unvetted migrants from France. The whole thing is riddled with loopholes, opt-outs and legal escape routes that will make removals near-impossible.'
Rhyl Journal
44 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Potential victims of modern slavery at record high, latest figures show
There were 5,690 people referred between April and June this year – a 7% increase on the previous three-month period and a 32% rise from the same quarter last year. Data published earlier this year showed a record high for the whole of 2024, when a total of 19,125 potential victims in the UK were referred to the Home Office, up from 16,990 the previous year. The latest Government data, published on Thursday, gives figures for the three months from April to June 2025. The Home Office said the 5,690 potential victims of modern slavery referred in the latest three-month period is the highest in a single quarter since the national referral mechanism (NRM) began in 2009. To access support and have recognition of their circumstances in the UK, victims of slavery and human trafficking have to be assessed under the NRM. People of UK nationality were the most commonly referred to the NRM, the Government said, accounting for 23% of referrals. The figure – 1,286 – was the highest number of referrals for UK nationals in a quarter since the NRM began. The next most common nationalities were Eritrean (accounting for 11% or 641 people) and Vietnamese (also making up 11% or 599 people). Almost three-quarters of all referrals were male – 74% – while 26% were female. Among child referrals, 79% (or 1,364) were boys while 20% (or 351) were girls. The Home Office said in the latest quarter males most often reported criminal or labour exploitation while females most often reported sexual exploitation. For the most recent period, 457 county lines referrals were flagged, of which the majority were for boys. There were 11,547 cases which had been issued a positive initial decision, known as a reasonable grounds decision, but were awaiting a final conclusive grounds decision. This was down from 14,075 at the end of the previous quarter and 23,586 cases at the end of June 2024. The Government has vowed to clear the backlog of cases awaiting a conclusive grounds decision by December 2026. The average (median) time cases had to await a conclusive grounds decision once the initial reasonable grounds decision was issued stood at 304 days at the end of June, down from a 474-day wait at the end of the previous quarter. Independent anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons argued the system as it stands is not working for victims. She said: 'Today's figures show that a record numbers of victims of modern slavery are being exploited on our streets and in our communities. 'Shockingly, a record number of young boys are being exploited and more UK nationals are victims of modern slavery than ever before. 'Against this backdrop of rising exploitation, the system that should identify and support victims is not working, victims have lost trust in it, there are long delays for victims, and there is poor decision-making. 'This must change. Government must act to making tackling modern slavery a priority, supported with proper funding and a strategy. Victims of modern slavery deserve more, we must act now to support the increasing number of victims, children and UK nationals being exploited.' The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
