Sex abuse victims withdraw from Home Office inquiry

  • Politics
The victims wrote to Home Secretary Theresa May explaining their decision to withdraw from the inquiry Credit: PA Wire

A number of victims of alleged historic child sex abuse have withdrawn from an inquiry by the Home Office.

In a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May, the group said they had wanted to take part but believed the inquiry "is not fit for purpose".

It comes after Ms May announced an independent inquiry in July to examine the handling of historic child abuse allegations by state institutions as well as the BBC, churches and political parties.

The inquiry has faced a number of setbacks, including the resignations of Lady Butler-Sloss and Fiona Woolf, appointed to head the inquiry panel, following concerns over their links to establishment figures.

In the letter to Ms May, the group wrote: "We, alongside many survivors, have made numerous representations to you regarding our view that the inquiry as it stands is not fit for purpose."

The group who signed the letter includes victims, campaigners, health professionals and MPs.

Explaining their decision, the group said "the terms of reference of the inquiry go well beyond the original declared intentions, namely to investigate government and establishment cover-ups of paedophiles in their ranks and aiding bringing the perpetrators to justice".

They also questioned the cut-off date for the inquiry investigations being set at 1970, arguing it should go back further, and noted the resignations of Lady Butler-Sloss and Woolf.

"As a result, the Home Office seems to be running the inquiry to meet others’ needs rather than those of survivors and the public," they wrote.

Baroness Butler-Sloss also resigned as Head of the inquiry panel. Credit: PA Wire

The group called on others to also withdraw from the inquiry until the Home Secretary replaced the current inquiry panel and declared a statutory inquiry.

They also called for changes including extending the cut-off date to 1945 and the creation of a dedicated police team at the National Crime Agency to take evidence alongside the inquiry to investigate and prosecute offenders

Finally they called for "those that have failed in their professional duty or covered up allegations or been obstructive" to be held to account.

In a statement responding to the letter, the Home Office said it was committed to ensuring the panel had the confidence of the victims.