During First Minister’s Questions today, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Darren Millar MS raised concerns over the lack of updates on establishing a public inquiry into grooming gangs in Wales.
Mr Millar raised further concerns following reports that two survivors have quit the UK Government’s victims and survivors panel, citing a lack of trust in the process. One survivor expressed fears that the inquiry had become “less about the truth and more about a cover-up” after it emerged that the two shortlisted candidates to lead the inquiry were a former police chief and a social worker, both from institutions which had failed victims when they needed protection the most.
Mr Millar also criticised the fact that the victim-survivors reference group being set up by the Welsh Government, announced in June as part of its Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse, has still not met, according to abuse survivor Emily Vaughn.
Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS said:
“The lack of urgency from either the Welsh or UK Governments on this issue is alarming and a cause for concern.
“It’s been four months since the First Minister wrote to me to say that a victim-survivors reference group was being established in Wales yet, according to victims of abuse, it is yet to meet.
“Given that there were further arrests in Rhyl in relation to child sexual exploitation over the summer, these delays are totally unacceptable.
“The Welsh Government must make this a priority so that victims can get the justice they deserve, and evil perpetrators can be held to account for their crimes.”
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