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Written question asked by Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 13 March 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 March 2015. It was answered by Lord Bates (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 March 2015 on behalf of the Home Office.

South Yorkshire Police

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Bates on 3 March (HL Deb, col 92), and the recent reports concerning South Yorkshire Police and child exploitation cases in Sheffield, whether they will set up an independent inquiry into South Yorkshire Police.

Answer

The responsibility for securing an efficient and effective police force, and for holding chief constables to account for the running of their force, falls to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for that force area. As part of that responsibility, it will be for the PCC to decide whether they wish to seek advice and assurances from independent experts. On Friday 13 March, South Yorkshire PCC Alan Billings announced his intention to commission a ‘Casey-like inspection'.

The Government is taking action to address the failures to protect children from this despicable crime, which we have seen in areas such as Rotherham, Oxford and Rochale. As part of a major report, published on 3 March, we designated child sexual abuse as a national threat within the Strategic Policing Requirement, so that this crime is prioritised by every police force, and announced a new system of multi-agency inspections by Ofsted, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Care Quality Commission, which will begin in 2015/16.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5723
Session
2014-15
Related items
Police: Complaints
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Oral answers to questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Offences against children Sheffield South Yorkshire Police
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk