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Abuse inquiry: Churches and 'prominent people' to be investigated | Abuse inquiry: Churches and 'prominent people' to be investigated |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Anglican and Catholic churches and "people of public prominence" are to be investigated by the inquiry into child sexual abuse, its chair has said. | The Anglican and Catholic churches and "people of public prominence" are to be investigated by the inquiry into child sexual abuse, its chair has said. |
Justice Lowell Goddard said councils in Lambeth, Nottinghamshire and Rochdale councils will also be examined as part of 12 separate investigations in England and Wales. | Justice Lowell Goddard said councils in Lambeth, Nottinghamshire and Rochdale councils will also be examined as part of 12 separate investigations in England and Wales. |
The scale of the inquiry was "unprecedented" in the UK, but she was determined it would succeed, she added. | The scale of the inquiry was "unprecedented" in the UK, but she was determined it would succeed, she added. |
The inquiry is due to take five years. | |
Other institutions to be investigated include Medomsley Youth Detention Centre in County Durham, and Cambridge House boys' home in Rochdale. | Other institutions to be investigated include Medomsley Youth Detention Centre in County Durham, and Cambridge House boys' home in Rochdale. |
Among religious orders and institutions to be investigated are English Benedictine congregations, and the Anglican Diocese of Chichester in West Sussex. | |
Analysis by BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds | Analysis by BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds |
Justice Lowell Goddard, who is leading the inquiry, has described the task ahead of her as daunting. She wasn't overestimating the challenge. | Justice Lowell Goddard, who is leading the inquiry, has described the task ahead of her as daunting. She wasn't overestimating the challenge. |
Her terms of reference mean she will have to examine the causes and effects of child abuse in all state or non-state institutions, as far back in history as required. | Her terms of reference mean she will have to examine the causes and effects of child abuse in all state or non-state institutions, as far back in history as required. |
That could take 10 years. No-one really believes the official estimate, that it could take five. | That could take 10 years. No-one really believes the official estimate, that it could take five. |
Over the last four months, her team has been working on the tricky job of setting up a structure capable of achieving this task. | Over the last four months, her team has been working on the tricky job of setting up a structure capable of achieving this task. |
The inquiry still has its critics - but the once-vociferous campaign by victims and survivors who say they don't trust it to get to the truth is less visible than it was earlier in the year. | The inquiry still has its critics - but the once-vociferous campaign by victims and survivors who say they don't trust it to get to the truth is less visible than it was earlier in the year. |
So now the work begins, picking through the darker secrets of recent British history, on behalf of thousands of abused children. | So now the work begins, picking through the darker secrets of recent British history, on behalf of thousands of abused children. |
Read more from Tom Symonds | Read more from Tom Symonds |
"Certain people" associated with Westminster, including MPs, former MPs, senior civil servants, and members of the security services, will also be investigated - as will claims that alleged abuse was covered up. | |
British institutions abroad, including the armed forces, Foreign Office, British Council and certain companies and voluntary organisations will form another investigation strand. | |
Other investigations will look at abuse linked to organised crime, how well abuse victims were treated by the authorities after making allegations, and institutional responses to internet abuse. | |
'Ambitious but possible' | |
The independent inquiry was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May to look at how institutions and organisations, including the BBC, police, armed forces, schools and children's homes, handled abuse claims. | The independent inquiry was launched by Home Secretary Theresa May to look at how institutions and organisations, including the BBC, police, armed forces, schools and children's homes, handled abuse claims. |
The scale of the work the inquiry has set itself is staggering, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. | |
It will be the UK's largest-ever public inquiry and is expected to cost tens of millions of pounds. | |
The time-frame of five years was ambitious, but possible, Justice Goddard said. | |
Official purpose of the inquiry: | Official purpose of the inquiry: |