Council children’s services directors have welcomed the wide-ranging inquiry into historical child sex allegations.
President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Alan Wood, said the organisation would support the broad investigation, which will look into claims of child abuse across organisations including the health service, political parties, the Church and the BBC.
Mr Wood said: ‘These are matters of the utmost importance and sensitivity, and should be treated accordingly, in the interests of general public confidence but especially in the interest of any child that may have been abused or put at risk of abuse by any such failings.
‘The way we safeguard and protect children has changed significantly for the better in recent years.
‘Nevertheless, the high profile cases in relation to child sexual exploitation have shone the spotlight on child protection more than ever before.
‘This is painful, especially for the individuals affected, as well as the wider community, so we all have a duty to ensure these events produce lasting good.’