A Manchester charity has welcomed yesterday’s announcement that an inquiry will be launched looking into the allegations of ‘historical’ sexual abuse of children.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron has also sworn to leave ‘no stone unturned’ in the inquiry, which will investigate alleged child abusers across politics, the BBC and the health services.
Survivors Manchester, a voluntary charity who offer support to male survivors of sexual abuse and rape went, praised the decision to, thanked Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk and West Bromwich East Labour MP Tom Watson for their continuing pressure campaign.
Founder CEO of Survivors Manchester told MM: “We very much welcome the inquiry.
“For us it’s important because more people will be talking about it and fellow survivors will be able to see that there’s a way forward.
“I hope that as a result, recommendations will be put in place and history won’t repeat itself.”
Home Secretary Theresa May vowed yesterday that there would be ‘maximum transparency’ and that all documents will be made available to the panel, providing that this wouldn’t interfere with any criminal investigation.
The inquiry panel will be led by a retired judge to determine whether paedophile rings were overlooked or deliberately ignored in corridors of power.
However, unlike the Leveson inquiry, following the News International phone hacking scandal, the inquiry panel will not have the powers of a judge-led investigation, meaning that witnesses cannot be compelled to give evidence under oath.
NSPCC chief executive Pater Wanless will also lead a separate review into the 114 files which went missing from the Home Office.
“I am glad the Government have listened to public pressure and have granted the inquiry we have been asking for,” Mr Danczuk told MM:
“My hope is that it will be broad and able to get to the bottom of what happened and who was responsible.”
The national inquiry comes just months after Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd commissioned an inquiry into the issue of child sexual exploitation.
The Coffey Inquiry was commissioned following the shocking Rochdale child grooming case, in which nine men were imprisoned for 77 years for the abuse of dozens of girls in the Greater Manchester.
Image courtesy of UK Parliament, via YouTube, with thanks.
