Child abuse inquiry chair to check council progress

The inquiry found obvious evidence of child sex crimes in Telford had been ignored for generations and more than 1,000 girls had been abused

The chairman of an independent inquiry into years of child sexual exploitation in Telford will assess what improvements have been made by the council early in 2024.

Tom Crowther QC's findings, released in July last year, found generations of children had been abused in the borough and listed dozens of recommendations for Telford and Wrekin Council to implement.

An update given to councillors last week said 75% of actions were now ready for assessment.

The remaining 25% which "require systemic change" were on track to be reviewed by the end of this year, Lee Carter, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said.

The inquiry was set up after a Sunday Mirror investigation revealed gangs had been abusing girls in Telford since the 1980s.

Mr Crowther said obvious evidence of child sex crimes had been ignored for generations and more than 1,000 girls had been abused.

On Tuesday, confirming the return of Mr Crowther in March, Mr Carter said: “This administration has done everything it can do to ensure that the needs and concerns of victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Telford & Wrekin are reflected in our response.

“We have always been determined in our view that it is the independent chair who will decide whether we have met the recommendations and it is not for us to say that the actions are complete."

He also thanked the three "lived experience consultees" who have been helping the council as their "determination and candidness" has "brought value" to the council implementing the changes.

Conservative party leader councillor Andrew Eade said he could see no reason for not "pressing ahead" and inviting Mr Crowther to start reviewing actions immediately, given the time making such an arrangement would take.

He also asked for a full breakdown of actions already completed, those in progress and targeted for completion in December as well as a briefing to be held about how other organisations were progressing.

Mr Crowther detailed 47 recommendations in his findings and 148 actions for organisations including the council, police and health providers.

In July, the council said it was "making solid progress" across the 29 recommendations and 82 actions it had sole responsibility for.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.