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Shaun Wright steps down as PCC after Rotherham report pressure

Shaun Wright has stepped down as South Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner after weeks of pressure over the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal, his office has announced.

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Shaun Wright resigning 'for sake of Rotherham victims'

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.

My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay’s report.

This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody’s focus - the 1400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them.

With this in mind, I feel that it is now right, to step down from the position of Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction.

– Shaun Wright

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