Child abuse inquiry will investigate Lord Janner claims

The IPCC is investigating Leicestershire Police over its handling of sexual abuse allegations against Lord Greville Janner.

The independent inquiry into historic child sex abuse will investigate the allegations made against Lord Greville Janner, it has been confirmed.

Justice Lowell Goddard, the New Zealander appointed to head the inquiry, has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions for the full files held on Lord Janner, who is accused of a string of abuses during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Justice Goddard said that "the depth of public concern" over the Janner case "exemplifies the need for a thorough and wholly independent investigation into the adequacy of institutional responses to child sexual abuse, particularly where persons in positions of influence are alleged to have abused children in institutional settings and have, for one reason or another, escaped prosecution over a number of years."

Lawyers representing alleged victims of Lord Janner are making a new attempt to overturn the decision not to prosecute the peer.

The Labour lord has been accused of multiple counts of child sex abuse, but was ruled medically unfit to stand trial due to his advanced dementia.

Peter Garsden, who is representing three people in a civil child abuse claim against the former MP, has asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify the reasoning for her decision.

Mr Garsden said the decision not to bring criminal charges - even though the CPS said there was enough evidence to prosecute - had left his clients "outraged".

He added: "We are considering the possibility of judicial review."

Read more: Lord Janner's lawyer 'thought peer would face child abuse charges'