Telford child sex abuse: Call for councillors to back inquiry
Telford & Wrekin councillors should unite around plans to hear from victims of child sexual abuse as part of a national inquiry, the authority’s leader has said.
Councillor Shaun Davies warned that continued calls for a separate council-led inquiry into child sexual abuse in the town could put victims off speaking with experts from the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
His comments come as Conservative councillors continued calls for a local inquiry into the issue to be commissioned.
Councillor Davies said: “It’s really important we unite around the Truth Project. It will be coming into Telford starting next month and will be here for a number of months. It’s important victims come forward to speak.
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“The bottom line in terms of the council inquiry is it will not be seen as independent, it won’t have the power to hold the police or health systems to account, and it will only look at issues after 1998 when the council was created.”
The inquiry, led by Professor Alexis Jay, is investigating the extent to which institutions in England and Wales failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
Victims and survivors in Telford will be able to talk about their experiences as part of the inquiry’s Truth Project.
Vital
Councillor Nicola Lowery, chairwoman of the Telford Conservative Association, welcomed the Truth Project coming to Telford, but said it was vital that a local inquiry is still held.
Councillor Lowery said: “We greatly welcome this announcement from the National Inquiry into child sexual abuse in committing to bring the Truth Project to Telford, providing as it will survivors with a voice and, most crucially, the opportunity for them to give evidence in confidence and contribute to recommendations moving forward.
“It is however important that The Truth Project be a key contributor to a locally-led and focused inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford. It is vital we can fully understand the scale of child sexual exploitation in our borough, leading to the identification and eradication of any failings by the council, West Mercia constabulary and other partner agencies.
“A locally termed and referenced inquiry will enable us to examine both historic and live cases to ensure public confidence in our local authorities is restored and lessons learned.”
Telford & Wrekin Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on child sexual exploitation on April 10. It will take place from 6pm at Oakengates Theatre and will be open to the public.
The meeting is being held after requests from Councillor Andrew Eade and others to discuss a motion on an independent inquiry.
