Theresa May's child abuse inquiry shame: Petition launched as victims' wait for justice passes 200 days

By Nigel Nelson
Mirror
January 24, 2015

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/theresa-mays-child-abuse-inquiry-5038236

Get a move on: Home Secretary Theresa May

Home Secretary Theresa May is under increasing pressure to get her inquiry into historic child sex abuse off the ground.

It comes as our May-o-meter records 203 days have elapsed since she first ­announced it.

Today abuse survivor “Becky” will launch a ­petition on website change.org ­urging May to get a move on.

Becky demands: “Start the ­inquiry you promised to abuse survivors without ­further ­delay.”

Her plea comes after the death of Leon Brittan last week as child abuse campaigners fear others will now take what they know of the alleged paedophile ring cover-up to their graves.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk said: “If we’re going to get to the truth Theresa May needs to start making progress.

“A lot of people who need to give evidence are in advanced years and we’re running out of time.”

Mrs May is dithering over naming one of 100 candidates to chair the inquiry after two nominees had to quit.

On 7 July last year Mrs May announced an independent inquiry to investigate the way public bodies handled child sex abuse claim chaired by Elizabeth Butler-Sloss.

The former judge had to stand down because her late brother Sir Michael Havers was attorney general in the 1980s. He was allegedly involved in sex parties with rent boys.

Replacement nominee Fiona Woolf also quit over dinners she had with Lord Brittan between 2008-2012.

Mrs May said she would consult victims before naming a third person to head the inquiry.

Then in December Mrs May told inquiry members their panel might be disbanded.

That has prompted Becky to launch her petition.

It says: “I am a survivor of sexual abuse in my childhood.

"It started when I was just three years old and continued through a peadophile ring and, later, grooming gangs and trafficking for more than 20 years.

“No one should have to go through what I did.

“The Government promised an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that took place in England and Wales.

“Over 200 days later survivors like me are still waiting for the inquiry to get started.

“That’s why I’ve launched this petition calling on Home Secretary, Theresa May to hurry up and re-start the inquiry into historic child abuse sex abuse that she promised.

“I haven’t been able to talk about what happened to me for years but the inquiry gave me a chance to do that.

“I’d already engaged with the members of the inquiry at the initial research stage and, after hearing their passion and commitment to survivors, took what for me was a huge decision.

“I decided that I would trust these people with the truth. I shared with them what had happened to me, and how I had been failed as a child and teenager.

“For the first time, in my life I felt like I had been able to tell this story without judgement or shame, and still feel that this was the right thing to do.

“But now the inquiry has stalled. To lose this panel and inquiry would feel like the final betrayal of the little girl that I was, and would be to silence the voices of the survivors that are as yet unheard.

“There are thousands of us and I’m asking you to sign this petition and join me in calling on Theresa May to finally allow the inquiry to get underway with its work.

“Every day that passes without progress is a day that justice for so many survivors seems further away. Please sign my petition."