Abuse Inquiry : Mps, Councils and Churches to Be Investigated
BBC News
"To run 12 investigations in parallel represents an organisational challenge that is unprecedented in a public inquiry in the United Kingdom," she added. "We are determined to succeed." Lambeth council's leader, Lib Peck, said it had previously investigated crimes committed at its children's homes prior to their closure in 1983, which led to a number of criminal convictions. But she added that in light of "new national concerns" about how child abuse issues were investigated, "it is right that the very serious events of the past are being looked at again". 'Culture of tolerance' Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said it would give its "full support" to the inquiry. Other institutions to be investigated as part of the inquiry include Medomsley Youth Detention Centre in County Durham, and Cambridge House boys' home and Knowl View in Rochdale - including claims relating to the late Cyril Smith, a Liberal MP. An investigation will be held into allegations of child sexual abuse involving "people of public prominence" associated with Westminster - including MPs, senior civil servants, and members of the security services. Allegations of cover-up and conspiracy will also be looked at. And there will also be an investigation into whether there was, within the highest levels of government, a "culture of tolerance" towards those suspected of child sexual abuse. Liz Dux, a child abuse lawyer whose firm represents many of the victims to whom the abuse inquiry now applies, told BBC Radio 5 live they wanted to see "positive reforms come out of this inquiry to ensure that no other person suffers the way that they have done". Among religious orders and institutions to be investigated are English Benedictine congregations, and the Anglican Diocese of Chichester in West Sussex, which have both been the subjects of child sexual abuse allegations.
They will be used as case studies to establish whether they are representative of wider child protection failings within their respective churches. In relation to the Church of England, the case of Peter Ball, a former bishop who was jailed after admitting abusing 18 young men, will be investigated to see whether there were attempts by prominent people to interfere in the criminal justice process. The Church of England said on Friday that it welcomed Lord Justice Goddard's statement, and referred to the Archbishop of Canterbury's request in July that the Church be one of the first institutions to be considered in the inquiry. 464 gray line Analysis by BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds Justice Lowell Goddard, who is leading the inquiry, has described the task ahead of her as daunting. She wasn't overestimating the challenge. Her terms of reference mean she will have to examine the causes and effects of child abuse in all state or non-state institutions, as far back in history as required. That could take 10 years. No-one really believes the official estimate, that it could take five. Over the last four months, her team has been working on the tricky job of setting up a structure capable of achieving this task. The inquiry still has its critics - but the once-vociferous campaign by victims and survivors who say they don't trust it to get to the truth is less visible than it was earlier in the year. Read more from Tom Symonds 464 gray line British institutions abroad, including the armed forces, Foreign Office and British Council will form another investigation strand. Other investigations will look at how well abuse victims were treated by the authorities after making allegations, and institutional responses to internet abuse. 'Ambitious but possible' All 12 investigations will begin with immediate effect and most, if not all, will culminate in public hearings, Justice Goddard said. The independent inquiry was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May to look at how institutions and organisations, including the BBC, police, armed forces, schools and children's homes, handled abuse claims. The scale of the work the inquiry has set itself is staggering, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. 464 gray line Official purpose of the inquiry: To consider the extent to which state and non-state institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation To consider the extent to which those failings have since been addressed To identify further action needed to address any failings identified To consider the steps which it is necessary for state and non-state institutions to take in order to protect children from such abuse in future To publish a report with recommendations 464 gray line It will be the UK's largest-ever public inquiry and is expected to cost tens of millions of pounds. The time-frame of five years was ambitious, but possible, Justice Goddard said. The Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel to the inquiry said the investigations would give "public voice" to people who had suffered in silence. It would also "bring greater understanding of why so many horrific crimes went unreported and undetected for so long", it added.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.