Shropshire Star

Telford child sexual exploitation inquiry could begin in September - with victims giving evidence

Victims of child sexual exploitation in Telford will give evidence to an independent inquiry this autumn, it was revealed today.

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Telford & Wrekin Council has commissioned an investigation into claims that up to 1,000 girls may have been abused in incidents dating back to the 1970s.

The inquiry could start as soon as September, with an independent chair that will return a set of recommendations.

The development came as the council's director of Children's Services Clive Jones wrote an open letter to the people of Telford.

He said the council was determined to get to the truth – and promised that survivors of abuse will be central to the forthcoming inquiry.

He also said that, while the crime of child sexual exploitation was vile, Telford was not unique in experiencing the problem.

See the full letter below

Mr Jones said: "This is an issue in Telford but also one in every town and city across the UK. Anyone who says it isn’t simply isn’t looking hard enough.

"As a council, we will never ignore it. We have always been determined to ensure that Telford is at the leading edge of tackling the subject – both in terms of best practice in prevention and support.

"This inquiry will be done thoroughly and with complete transparency. It will involve survivors to help shape the inquiry.

"It ultimately aims to ensure that survivors have been heard and give the public confidence in our systems. It will give survivors confidence that their influence today is helping prevent more victims tomorrow."

Mr Jones said he believed Telford & Wrekin Council had acted properly throughout and that the process it has established will be followed by other authorities.

He added: "We firmly believe that this council can lead the way nationally when it comes to dealing with child sexual exploitation – communities everywhere will be able to learn from Telford & Wrekin."

Advisory group meets

A CSE Advisory Group has met for a second time to push forward with plans to appoint a commissioning body, which will then appoint an independent chair to lead the inquiry.

Final amendments were made and the advisory group will have the final sign off before a tendering process begins to find a commissioning body.

Councillor Peter Scott, chair of the advisory group, said: “We hope that the inquiry will begin in September, and from there it takes as long as it takes. It could take six months, a year, two years, three years, I don’t know but it will be as long as it takes.

“I am pleased we have got to this part where a commissioning body can soon be found, and I am happy we are at a point where the council can soon step back and make this an independent process.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, four survivors’ representatives were added to the group and will have a say in the process heading towards the inquiry.

Councillor Nicola Lowery welcomed them to the group, and Councillor Scott said this process is about getting the right results for the survivors.

He said: “It is good to see these people on the panel, and to have as many survivors as possible involved in the inquiry.

“They are going to have a big input and part to play, and it is about getting the right results for them and making sure they have a voice they have never had.”

Councillor Lowery added: “It is absolutely crucial that the survivors panel have involvement in every stage of this inquiry and their input to the process has been invaluable.”

The survivors’ representatives said that minute taking from the inquiry should be done by an independent person and not the council’s democratic services team.

The change was made to the specification, and now the group will work towards inviting tenders to become the commissioning body.

The successful applicant will then be announced on August 24.

'We are determined to uncover the truth'

An open letter to the people of Telford by borough director of children’s services Clive Jones

It is very easy to believe everything you read. Recent national coverage of child sexual exploitation has presented Telford in a horrific light.

There is no doubt that there are questions to a number of different public bodies including police, health services and the council that victims rightly want answers to.

Virtually no-one in Telford and Wrekin has been untouched by the news coverage of this vile crime in our town, with cases allegedly going back four decades.

These stories, which are shocking and harrowing, have made us more determined than ever to get to the truth.

Yes, this is an issue in Telford but also one in every town and city across the UK. Anyone who says it isn’t simply isn’t looking hard enough.

As a council, we will never ignore it. We have always been determined to ensure that Telford is at the leading edge of tackling the subject – both in terms of best practice in prevention and support.

We will continue to deal with any new and current cases with absolute compassion and the highest of professional standards.

Telford has been at the centre of national headlines over the issue of child sexual exploitation, going back several decades

Over the coming months, a council commissioned independent inquiry will examine practices, both past and present. It is imperative that this inquiry is as independent from the council as it can be. In fact, in an ideal world, the government would have commissioned a statutory inquiry with the powers to compel partner agencies and former employees to give evidence. What we will have is the next best thing – a council-commissioned inquiry that we are ensuring will be as independent as it possibly can be.

This inquiry will be done thoroughly and with complete transparency. It will involve survivors to help shape the inquiry.

It ultimately aims to ensure that survivors have been heard and give the public confidence in our systems. It will give survivors confidence that their influence today is helping prevent more victims tomorrow.

It will also provide them and us with the confidence to be able to ask questions of others who have responsibility for dealing with this problem at a national level. But our work on this issue doesn’t just begin and end with this inquiry.

Every day we work tirelessly on this issue. We’re investing heavily into our specialist Children Abused Through Exploitation Team and our wider safeguarding services.

We are continually engaging with areas who have also encountered this issue to learn from them too.

But, most importantly, we are committed to retaining the trust and confidence of survivors, their families and the wider community.

We are engaging on a daily basis with campaigners, survivors and other organisations on this issue. Most of this work will never be publicised – but it is happening and it will continue for as long as one person remains at risk from this terrible crime.

Let us be clear – this vile crime is an issue that crosses many public services in the borough – particularly the police and health services. Indeed many of the issues reported in the media rest with partner services, not the council.

We accept and regret that mistakes were made in the past and non-recent practices were not as effective as they should be and will never shy away from saying this. But it is important to remember that awareness and perceptions of child sexual exploitation just 10 years ago was very different to what it is now.

We and every council, police force and other partners across the country must continue to work even harder with all our communities to tackle what is a vile and evil crime.

We firmly believe that this council can lead the way nationally when it comes to dealing with child sexual exploitation – communities everywhere will be able to learn from Telford and Wrekin.

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