UNITED KINGDOM
The Guardian
Sandra Laville
Tuesday 20 January 2015
A lawyer representing victims of child abuse has called for a swift decision by Theresa May on the future of the independent panel set up to investigate institutional abuse amid concerns that evidence is being lost or destroyed.
Alison Millar, from Leigh Day, who represents around 50 survivors of child abuse, spoke as members of the independent panel appointed to carry out an inquiry into institutional failings to protect children, were due to give evidence to the home affairs select committee on Tuesday.
The independent inquiry announced by the home secretary was set up seven months ago but its future is uncertain.
Two chairs have been forced to resign over their connections with establishment figures, and no new chair has been appointed. There have been complaints from victims about the lack of transparency in the appointment of the panel of experts, and criticism over the actions of two members for what is claimed were inappropriate communications with victims.
May is considering three options to reconstitute the independent inquiry as a statutory investigation, after complaints from some survivors about the lack of transparency over their appointment. Only one of these options involves keeping the same panel in place. Sources close to the inquiry said it was anticipated that the panel would be disbanded in the near future.
Millar said the panel had lost the confidence of many victims and a decision on selecting a new panel had to be made very soon.
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