Shaun Wright steps down as PCC after Rotherham report pressure

Joyce Thacker has left her role as director of children's services on Rotherham Council by "mutual agreement" according to a council statement.

Ms Thacker had come under fire after the publication of a report into child abuse in the town.

She is the latest official in the area to leave their post following the report.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright stepped down this week after almost a month of pressure.

A victim of sexual abuse from Rotherham has hit out at Shaun Wright following his resignation as South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner.

The victim told ITV News Mr Wright had "dragged out" his resignation and should have stepped down three weeks ago.

The chair of Parliament's Home Affairs Committee, Keith Vaz, said the resignation was "the right thing" but that he also wished it had come earlier.

ITV News Correspondent Damon Green reports:

Read: Shaun Wright resigning 'for sake of Rotherham victims'

Ed Miliband says it is "right" that South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright has resigned.

The Labour leader wrote on Twitter that authorities must "listen to the victims" to ensure there is not a repeat of the scandal.

The mother of a 17-year-old girl who said she was sexually exploited in Rotherham when she was as young as 12 has welcomed Shaun Wright's resignation but says others still need to take responsibility for their roles in an alleged cover up of abuse in the town.

She said: "I'm glad he's done it and I hope he's the first in a long line. We need to get the rest of them out and then we'll know that children in Rotherham are safe."

"He was quite an easy target, he was first in line," she added. There are a lot more people below him that have covered up and all decided not to say anything. They've all colluded and I think it's disgusting."

The mother, whose daughter said she was abused by men who groomed her using social media and raped her in Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster, said Mr Wright should have resigned earlier.

"I think it just shows how arrogant and indifferent he is," she said.

Home Secretary Theresa May has said she is "pleased" Shaun Wright has "heeded the calls from his local community for him to resign".

She added it was now for the people of South Yorkshire to elect someone "who can provide local leadership, ensure the lessons of these dreadful cases are applied, and make sure the victims get the justice they deserve."

South Yorkshire Police has vowed to hold to account those at fault during the Rotherham abuse scandal following the resignation of Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright.

Chief Constable David Crompton said: "The force acknowledges the PCC's resignation today. This represents an opportunity for the force, and the county, to move forward in light of Professor Jay's report about child sexual exploitation.

"The force has referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and is in detailed discussion with the National Crime Agency to oversee an independent inquiry into allegations of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.

"Any organisations or individuals found to be at fault will be held to account," he added.

Crompton said the force was increasing the amount of resources devoted to tackling the issue and said it would take seriously any allegations of sexual offences "regardless of how long ago they took place".

The chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation says it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to work with Shaun Wright in the wake of a damning report into sexual abuse in Rotherham.

Neil Bowles said: "It would have been difficult to see how we could work with him considering he had such little credibility in the political world."

Wright was responsible for children's services during five of the 15 years in which the abuse of at least 1,400 children is said to have taken place in the town.

Among those who called for Wright's resignation from his current role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner were Prime Minister David Cameron, Home Secretary Theresa May and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

A Labour MP has called for former Home Secretary David Blunkett to stand for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner in the by-election that will follow Shaun Wright's resignation.

Bassetlaw MP John Mann called Mr Blunkett "a credible and dedicated public servant who has served in a variety of roles locally and nationally".

Mann added that Wright's resignation was "too little too late", adding: "He failed the people of Rotherham and to try and remain in his post as police and crime commissioner was an insult to the victims and their families."

Labour MPs have responded welcoming the news of South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright's resignation.

Among those responding on Twitter was Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, who led calls for Wright's resignation over the abuse scandal in the town.

Shaun Wright said he is stepping down as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner "for the sake of the victims" of the Rotherham child exploitation scandal.