COMMENT: Care is vital over abuse allegations

It is right that such horrific claims should be properly investigated by the police, but it must be remembered that at this stage they are only allegations.

Even though Esther Baker, who has chosen to waive her right to anonymity, alleges that a high profile politician and police officers were involved in sexual assaults on her as a child from the age of six in the 1980s and 1990s it does not mean that they definitely happened and that anyone was guilty.

We are now operating in very different times and the lessons of recent court cases involving allegations of sexual abuse against young people is that no one is above the law and therefore, it is only right and proper that any such complaints should be fully investigated no matter who they may involve.

It may well be that Esther Baker's action in revealing her identity will result in other children, now adults, she claims were also abused and filmed by men from other parts of the country on Cannock Chase and at properties in Staffordshire will come forward.

If they do then Staffordshire Police, who are only in the early stages of investigating her allegations using specially-trained officers, must also look into those as well.

It is vitally important that anyone who fears giving evidence should feel supported and confident enough to come forward no matter if, as Esther Baker claims, they have been subjected to threats and are scared.

We can only hope that if the crimes alleged by Esther Baker have been committed, then those responsible can and will be brought to justice no matter how famous or powerful they might be.