MPs call urgent Rotherham file investigation

MPs have called an urgent investigation into the Rotherham child sex scandal files that went missing from a council researcher’s office few years ago.

The demand stems amidst public fears of a “deliberate cover-up” of the scandal that sparked fury and outraged people after initial report was published in August this year.

The report exposed the existence of widespread child sexual abuse in the town of Rotherham, South Yorkshire and England between 1997 and 2013. Independent inquiries were set up to investigate the allegations, procedures and practices of both South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Borough Council.

The report also mentioned that a former researcher, employed by Rotherham Borough Council, affirmed that someone gained access to her office and stole the files that were to be passed to the Home Office.

Commenting on Saturday’s appeal MP and chairman of Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz said: “The Home Office should do everything in its power to locate any missing files in its possession relating to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and other places. The proliferation of revelations about files which can no longer be located gives rise to public suspicion of a deliberate cover-up. The only way to address these concerns is with a full, transparent and urgent investigation.”

The request urges an immediate search into the missing paperwork and comes after the Jay report, which found nearly 1,400 girls as young as 11, who were trained and abused by gangs for over 16 years in Rotherham during 1997 to 2013.

The committee deems there was “compelling evidence” that was ignored by the town’s council and South Yorkshire Police along with “numerous, credible warnings about the scale of child sexual exploitation”, which has raised suspicion that officials concealed evidence.

MPs have also asked for new laws to remove failing police commissioners.

Aastha Gill