Rotherham Abuse: Labour Suspends Members

The Labour Party has suspended four members in the wake of a report into the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

Jahangir Akhtar and councillors Roger Stone, Gwendoline Ann Russell and Shaukat Ali will now be investigated by the party.

All four held senior positions of responsibility in Rotherham in the 16-year period in which some 1,400 children are reported to have been abused by gangs of older men.

Labour said in a statement: "As Ed Miliband made clear last week large numbers of young people in Rotherham were systematically abused and then let down by those who should have protected them.

"It cannot be allowed to stand."

Some 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013

The announcement follows a damning report which criticised the failure of both Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police to respond to reports of abuse between 1997 and 2013.

For its part, South Yorkshire Police has announced it will launch an independent investigation into its handling of the allegations.

Chief Constable David Crompton said: "The investigation will properly and independently examine the role of both the police and council during the period identified and address any wrongdoings or failings, which will allow the appropriate action to be taken."

Mr Stone resigned as Rotherham Council leader last week after the publication of the Jay report.

He was the council cabinet member responsible for children's services between 2006 and 2010. He was also the elected official responsible for holding the police to account for their actions in South Yorkshire from 2012.

South Yorkshire Police has commissioned an independent investigation

Mr Akhtar stepped down as deputy leader of Rotherham Council last year after it was reported he knew about a relationship between a relative and an under-age girl in care.

He denied the allegations and was later cleared by police of any blame. 

A number of other high-profile figures in Rotherham have been called upon to consider their positions in light of the scandal.

Chief among them is Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire Shaun Wright, who was responsible for children's services at the town council for five of the 16 years when children were abused.

Mr Wright quit the Labour Party last week after it threatened to suspend him over the scandal, but has so far refused to resign despite calls from a number of senior figures, including Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire has refused to resign

Labour said Mr Wright and fellow former party member Maurice Kirk will now need approval from its National Executive Committee (NEC) before being able to rejoin the Party.

Labour also announced a series of preventive measures, including the establishment of a new "rigorous" selection procedure for Rotherham's local government which will be overseen by the NEC.

It said it had also told the Labour Group on Rotherham Council to establish a "scrutiny" committee on child protection.

The party warned that further action could follow, saying those responsible "must be and will be held to account."

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Rotherham Abuse: Labour Suspends Members

Dengan url

http://gagalcoba.blogspot.com/2014/09/rotherham-abuse-labour-suspends-members.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Rotherham Abuse: Labour Suspends Members

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Rotherham Abuse: Labour Suspends Members

sebagai sumbernya