New chair to lead independent inquiry into child sexual abuse
Professor Alexis Jay to take over as chair after serving as a member of the current inquiry panel.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd today announced that Professor Alexis Jay will lead the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.
A child protection expert with over 30 years’ experience, Professor Jay led the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham which found that at least 1,400 children were subjected to appalling sexual exploitation in the town between 1997 and 2013.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:
The independent inquiry has a vital role to play in exposing the failure of public bodies and other major organisations to prevent systematic child sexual abuse.
I’m delighted Professor Alexis Jay has agreed to chair the inquiry. She has a strong track record in uncovering the truth and I have no doubt she will run this independent inquiry with vigour, compassion and courage.
Let there be no doubt; our commitment to this inquiry is undiminished. We owe it to victims and survivors to confront the appalling reality of how children were let down by the very people who were charged to protect them and to learn from the mistakes of the past.
Professor Alexis Jay said:
I am committed to ensuring this inquiry does everything it has set out to do and does so with pace, with confidence and with clarity.
Be in no doubt - the inquiry is open for business and people are busier than ever working hard to increase momentum. The panel and I are determined to make progress on all parts of the inquiry’s work, including speaking to victims and survivors.
I am determined to overcome the challenges along the way. I will lead the largest public inquiry of its kind and together with my fellow panel members we will fearlessly examine institutional failures, past and present and make recommendations so that the children of England and Wales are better protected now and in the future.