4th February 2015
Solace response to Inspection of Rotherham MBC
On 4 February 2015, the Government published the report of Louise Casey’s inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. This is a statement from Mark Rogers, President of Solace and Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, in response.
Today’s report makes upsetting and troubling reading. For too long, key agencies in Rotherham did not properly safeguard vulnerable children in the Borough. Abuse was not tackled and concerns were ignored or even suppressed.
The Society is committed to playing its part in tackling the scourge of Child Sexual Exploitation. To do this we must always listen to children, take their concerns seriously and act upon them. We must also be clear that children can never consent to their own abuse. Anyone who does not understand these principles has no place holding a position of responsibility and authority. In these exceptional circumstances, it is right that the Government takes the intervention steps it has set out.