CHILD abuse cases involving accusations of witchcraft and exorcism are increasingly on the rise in the UK, an investigation found.
A specialist unit in London recorded 46 crimes linked to faith last year – more than double the number in 2013.
Project Violet, the specialist faith-based abuse team in the Metropolitan Police Service, has documented 60 incidents so far this year.
Data by BBC Radio 5 also reveals half of police forces do not routinely record such cases, with only two other forces reporting incidents over the past three years – Greater Manchester and Northamptonshire.
A separate Freedom of Information request to councils across the UK revealed 31 instances of a child being accused of witchcraft or possession by spirits in 2014, in comparison to 21 in 2013 and ten in 2012.
He told BBC Radio 5: “You’ll get the actual physical abuse and injuries taking place, and in the worst case scenario we’ve had some homicides as well.”
“We’ve had a case within the last year where a nine-year-old boy had been called a devil child and thrown out of his address by his parents and was found by social services standing in his bare feet.”
Another incident involved a child who was attacked and bitten in the face by his mum, who tried to smother him, because she believed he was a “witch possessed by evil spirits”.
Debbie Ariyo, founder of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse, said within churches there is often a financial motive behind claims.
She said: “The pastor says there’s a witch in this church today; then looks around and points to a child – that means public humiliation for the family.
“The next step is exorcism which is not done for free. It’s a money-making scam.”
She warned against viewing the issue as solely affecting the African community and said her organisation has supported victims from other faiths and backgrounds.
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