Menu
16/09/2014
Police And Crime Commissioner Resigns Over Rotherham Abuse
Shaun Wright, South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, has resigned over the Rotherham child abuse scandal.
Mr Wright had refused to step down despite growing calls for him to do so in the wake of a report on the extent of child abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2005.
Mr Rotherham was head of child services in the town from 2005 to 2010.
In a statement, Mr Wright said: "My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report.
"This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody's focus - the 1,400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them.
"With this in mind, I feel that it is now right to step down... for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction."
An acting commissioner will now be selected to replace Mr Wright, ahead of a by-election to select a permanent replacement.
(MH/CD)
Mr Wright had refused to step down despite growing calls for him to do so in the wake of a report on the extent of child abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2005.
Mr Rotherham was head of child services in the town from 2005 to 2010.
In a statement, Mr Wright said: "My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report.
"This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody's focus - the 1,400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them.
"With this in mind, I feel that it is now right to step down... for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction."
An acting commissioner will now be selected to replace Mr Wright, ahead of a by-election to select a permanent replacement.
(MH/CD)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 August 2014
Shaun Wright Quits Labour Party Following Rotherham Report
Shaun Wright has resigned from the Labour party, amid increasing pressure following a report on abuse in Rotherham, where he managed children's services between 2005 and 2010. Mr Wright was under increased pressure in light of a report that said almost 1,400 children had been sexually exploited between 1997 and 2013.
Shaun Wright Quits Labour Party Following Rotherham Report
Shaun Wright has resigned from the Labour party, amid increasing pressure following a report on abuse in Rotherham, where he managed children's services between 2005 and 2010. Mr Wright was under increased pressure in light of a report that said almost 1,400 children had been sexually exploited between 1997 and 2013.
18 September 2014
New Acting PCC Announced
The current treasurer for the office of the police and crime commissioner, Steve Pick, has been announced as the acting Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Yorkshire. It follows the resignation of Shaun Wright, who had come under increasing pressure to step down in light of a report into child sexual abuse in Rotherham.
New Acting PCC Announced
The current treasurer for the office of the police and crime commissioner, Steve Pick, has been announced as the acting Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Yorkshire. It follows the resignation of Shaun Wright, who had come under increasing pressure to step down in light of a report into child sexual abuse in Rotherham.
27 August 2014
Labour Calls For Shaun Wright To Stand Down
South Yorkshire's Police Commissioner is refusing to stand down from his post, claiming he was "not aware" of the scale of the problem after it was found that more than 1,400 children had been abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
Labour Calls For Shaun Wright To Stand Down
South Yorkshire's Police Commissioner is refusing to stand down from his post, claiming he was "not aware" of the scale of the problem after it was found that more than 1,400 children had been abused in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.
25 September 2006
MoD rejects Afghan blast claims
The Ministry of Defence has refuted newspaper claims that a landmine blast which killed a British paratrooper in Afghanistan was caused by the downdraught from a Chinook helicopter.
MoD rejects Afghan blast claims
The Ministry of Defence has refuted newspaper claims that a landmine blast which killed a British paratrooper in Afghanistan was caused by the downdraught from a Chinook helicopter.
28 January 2009
Consultation To End Child Poverty, Launched
The Government has today set out plans to make sure every child gets the best start in life by tackling child poverty, which can unfairly hold children back and prevent them reaching their full potential.
Consultation To End Child Poverty, Launched
The Government has today set out plans to make sure every child gets the best start in life by tackling child poverty, which can unfairly hold children back and prevent them reaching their full potential.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
