Shropshire Star

Telford child sex abuse: The two inquiries explained

The Truth Project and Telford & Wrekin Council are both investigating Telford's child sex abuse scandal - but what are the two inquiries?

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Telford is the focus of two inquiries into child sexual exploitation

With claims of child sexual exploitation in Telford being looked at by two inquiries, Mark Andrews outlines the background to both:

Inquiry 1: Telford & Wrekin Council

Telford & Wrekin Council’s own inquiry into child sexual exploitation was announced last week amid growing calls for an investigation into allegations about child-sex gangs operating in the town.

Lucy Allan, the MP for Telford, first called for a public inquiry in September 2016, saying that a victim had told her that many of the worst offenders were still walking the streets.

She said an inquiry of a similar nature to the one Prof Alexis Jay had chaired in Rotherham was needed in Telford.

Telford & Wrekin Council initially said such an inquiry was “unnecessary” because it had already co-operated with three separate investigations, including an Ofsted inspection.

However, in March this year, following allegations in a national newspaper that up to 1,000 children may have been exploited by grooming gangs, council leader Councillor Shaun Davies agreed an inquiry should be held, adding that the authority had “nothing to hide.”.

But Councillor Davies said if such an inquiry was to have the confidence of the public, it would need to be called by the Government rather than the council.

“The way forward must now be a government-commissioned independent inquiry, with terms of reference set by government. Any such inquiry commissioned by local agencies like the council or police could be seen as not being impartial. This must have complete independence.”

The Home Office rejected Councillor Davies’s call, and said it was up to the council to decide if it thought such a probe was necessary.

Finally, at an emergency meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council on Tuesday last week, the authority unanimously agreed to hold its own inquiry.

Councillor Lee Carter has been appointed to oversee the inquiry.

In a series of outline proposals that will go before the council’s cabinet tomorrow, it has been proposed that a cross-party advisory group should be appointed to determine the direction of the inquiry.

The group will be made up of six councillors, two from each of the main parties on the council, to ensure impartiality.

Councillor Davies says he still has concerns an inquiry commissioned by the council will be limited in both its powers and its ability to give victims the answers they deserve.

“However, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that the process is as thorough and as independent as it possibly can be,” he says.

A sum of £350,000 will initially be set aside, although Councillor Davies says it is difficult to know the final cost.

Inquiry 2: The Truth Project

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was set up in 2014 by Theresa May, who was then home secretary.

It was called in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, in which the late DJ was accused of sexually abusing hundreds of children.

Subsequent inquiries revealed claims of widespread abuse by a number of high-profile figures stretching back decades, and alleged failures by public bodies to protect the children concerned.

Last month, amid growing calls for an inquiry into reports of child sexual exploitation in Telford, it was revealed that The Truth Project, an area of the inquiry which gives victims a voice, will be coming to the town.

Professionals will visit Telford to give victims the opportunity to anonymously share their experiences.

The inquiry, launched in July 2014, got off to a troubled start. Its first two chairmen, Baroness Butler-Sloss and Dame Fiona Woolf, quit shortly after their appointment following claims they were too close to the establishment they were investigating.

The initial aim was to focus on how mainly public bodies, such as the BBC, the police, and the NHS, had carried out their duties to protect children in their care.

It did not extend to investigating individual cases of abuse, although Baroness Butler-Sloss said she would be willing to hear of such cases.

While the main scope of the investigation was on public sector bodies, its panel was open to hearing about the conduct of private companies, political parties and security services.

Following Dame Fiona’s resignation in October 2014, the panel was disbanded and the inquiry was relaunched, this time with statutory powers to compel people to give evidence.

To address previous claims it was too close to the establishment, Mrs May appointed New Zealand judge Dame Lowell Goddard as its third chairman.

Justice Goddard announced in 2015 that the inquiry would investigate 12 separate areas, including Lambeth and Rochdale councils, the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, as well as schools and young offenders’ institutions.

The internet, the Houses of Parliament and “child exploitation by organised networks” were also included.

Justice Goddard said the scale of the inquiry meant it could take up to five years.

The process would be divided into three areas: public hearings, expert research, and The Truth Project, which victims are invited to give their accounts of what happened.

Goddard herself resigned in 2016, citing the distance from New Zealand, and was replaced by Prof Alexis Jay, who had previously chaired an inquiry into sex abuse in Rotherham.