The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

This goes all the way to the top ......

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales was announced by the British Home Secretary, Theresa May, on 7 July 2014. The inquiry was established to examine how the country's institutions handled their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.

It was set up after investigations in 2012 and 2013 into the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal revealed widespread abuse, including claims of abuse stretching back over decades by prominent media and political figures, and inadequate safeguarding by institutions and organisations responsible for child welfare.

So far 3 chairs have stepped down now some might say that, that's a bit unusual?

Materials found at National ArchivesIn January 2015, an academic researcher found in The National Archives a reference to a file regarding allegations of "unnatural" sexual behaviour taking place at Westminster that probably went to the Prime Minister in the early 1980s. The file was entitled "Allegations against former public [missing word] of unnatural sexual proclivities; security aspects 1980 Oct 27 - 1981 Mar 20." The file remains classified as it contained information from the security services and Law Officers. The Cabinet Office stated that any pertinent files would be made available to the forthcoming Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Scope

Justice Goddard announced on 27 November 2015 that 12 separate investigations would be undertaken. These would cover:^[9]

• Children in the care of Lambeth Council
• Children in the care of Nottinghamshire councils
• Cambridge House, Knowl View and Rochdale Council
• Child sexual abuse in the Anglican Church
• Child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church
• The sexual abuse of children in custodial institutions
• Child sexual abuse in residential schools
• The internet and child sexual abuse
• Child exploitation by organised networks
• The protection of children outside the United Kingdom
• Accountability and reparations for victims and survivors
• Allegations of child sexual abuse linked to Westminster

She said that the scale of the inquiry was unprecedented, and that it would take five years, but she was determined that it would succeed. She added that all the investigations would start immediately, and that most if not all would include public hearings.

More to update.........

"I was taken to one side and it was made clear to me, I was told that Theresa May was going to be the Prime Minister, this inquiry was going to be part of this, and that if I didn't toe the line and do I was told, if I tried to get information out, I would be discredited by her advisors."

Evans also claimed that, when talking to the Home Affairs Select Committee, she was given a 23-page document of what she should say and told then-chair Keith Vaz "I fear that I may not be able to tell the truth because I have been told what I may and may not say."  

Although Evans and her colleagues were promised the inquiry would be independent, she told John "there was no independence" and the confidentiality clause imposed on all panel members facilitated the "suppression" of the truth.
When asked who wanted to suppress the information, she said "my belief is that it was the Home Office."

LINKS

Wikipedia: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Child abuse inquiry member: 'I was silenced in 2015 to ensure Theresa May could become Prime Minister'
The Westminster child abuse ‘coverup’: how much did MPs know?
Edwardian house at heart of a long-simmering sex scandal

UPDATED
TheLondonEconomic: Westminster child sex abuse probe hears how parties and police covered up abuse