Child Abuse Update November 2014

It has been a busy month in relation to child abuse coverage in the media.

The most high profile development being that the Westminster Child Sex Inquiry has now been finalised and branded a “whitewash” by Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk after the conclusion was reached that it was impossible to say whether a cover up had taken place. This has been a high profile inquiry from the start. It was created in May 2014 by the Home Secretary Theresa May into alleged child abuse. Fiona Woolf had to step down as the Chair of the Inquest following claims she was too closely associated with the former Home Secretary Leon Brittan.

Child protection expert Peter Wanless was brought in to take over. He was instructed to investigate how Home Office officials had dealt with a dossier of allegations made by the late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens and to investigate the whereabouts of missing files of allegations against well established figures concerning a Paedophile Ring.

In his report published yesterday Mr Wanless said “It is …not possible to say whether files were ever removed or destroyed to cover up or hide allegations of organised or systematic child abuse by particular individuals”.

This report has taken a mere 6 weeks to produce following Mr Wanless’ appointment.

This is a disappointing finding.

Medomsley

On a more positive notice Durham Constabulary are said to be moving forward on the Medomsley Detention Centre historic child abuse claims. To date over 900 victims have said to come forward, many requiring counselling.

18 prison officers, some still serving, are said to be now under the current police investigation and arrests are set to be made as Medomsley now becomes Britain’s largest sexual and physical abuse inquiry. Victims were at the Centre during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

And Finally

Max Clifford

Disgraced PR guru Max Clifford has lost a challenge to his eight-year jail sentence for sex offences.

Announcing the decision, Lord Justice Treacy said: ‘It seems to us that, after consideration of the individual offences and the application of modern sentencing attitudes reflected in the guidelines… an overall sentence of eight years was justified and correct.’

He added: ‘Sexual offending will by its very nature cause harm at the time the offence is committed, but it is well recognised that for many victims significant harm persists for a considerable period afterwards.

‘This is a case where it is clear that the effect of what was done to the victims was not something from which they recovered quickly.’

If you would like more information about abuse compensation,  our specialist solicitors at Browell Smith & Co are here to help you seek justice, with the understanding and sensitivity that each individual deserves.

Call us 24/7 on 0800 107 3000 for more information.