Child sex abuse inquiry to focus on churches and politicians

 

The independent inquiry into child sex abuse in the UK is to focus on prominent figures in Westminster politics, the Anglican and Catholic church, local councils, schools and youth offender institutes.
Outlining an investigation with 12 distinct lines of inquiry,
each with its own timetable of public hearings, chair Justice Lowell Goddard said churches and councils in Lambeth, Nottinghamshire and Rochdale would be among the first areas investigated.
She added that the inquiry would investigate high-profile allegations of a child sex abuse ring operating in Westminster, including sitting and former members of parliament, senior civil servants and government advisers.
Among the other lines of investigation outlined w ere inquiries into Medomsley juvenile detention centre in County Durham, in connection with which Goddard said she had already received hundreds of allegations of abuse.
The investigation would also focus on child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches following a series of scandals involving senior clergymen, she said, adding that regional truth centres for victims would be set up next year.
On the investigation into the Anglican church, Goddard said: “As a case study we will consider the experience of the diocese of Chichester, a diocese that has been beset by allegations of sexual abuse and subject to numerous investigations, reviews and inquiries.
“We will also consider the case of former bishop of Lewes, and subsequent bishop of Gloucester, Peter Ball, and investigate whether there were inappropriate attempts by people of prominence to interfere in criminal justices processes after he was first accused of child sexual offences.”
Goddard’s investigation was set up last year following claims of a high-level cover-up of abuse and has been beset by delays following the resignations of two previous chairwomen. It will be Britain’s largest-ever public inquiry and is expected to take up to five years and cost tens of millions of pounds.
Goddard said: “The investigation will focus on high-profile allegations of child sexual abuse involving current or former members of parliament, senior civil servants, government advisers and members of intelligence and security agencies.
“It will consider allegations of cover-up and conspiracy and review the adequacy of law enforcement responses to these allegations.”
She added: “There is no doubt that the task we have set ourselves is ambitious. To run 12 investigations in parallel represents an organisational challenge that is unprecedented in a public inquiry in the United Kingdom.
“We are determined to succeed and expect full co-operation of all institutions and individuals who can assist us in our work.”