A charity worker told the officer that no culture or religion could justify child abuse

A police officer phoned a charity to ask whether it was “culturally acceptable” for an Iraqi paedophile to have a 12-year-old girlfriend.

The detective had arrested the 26-year-old man but wanted to be “culturally sensitive” after the suspect said the relationship was acceptable in his community. Karma Nirvana, the charity that took the call, told the officer to deal with the man as he would any other suspected child abuser.

The charity, which works with victims of forced marriage, said that the case showed the danger of officers whose professional judgment was clouded by fear of being called racist.

The call log, shared with The Times, says that the policeman asked for advice because “the accused is stating that it is ‘completely acceptable in