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Ex Rotherham police chief 'failed' abuse victims Ex Rotherham police chief 'failed' abuse victims
(about 1 hour later)
The former chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has told MPs he "singularly failed" victims of child abuse in Rotherham.The former chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has told MPs he "singularly failed" victims of child abuse in Rotherham.
Meredydd Hughes is being questioned by the Home Affairs Select Committee about how authorities dealt with child sexual exploitation in the town. Meredydd Hughes was questioned by the Home Affairs Select Committee about how authorities dealt with child sexual exploitation in the town.
A report found at least 1,400 children were abused from 1997-2013.A report found at least 1,400 children were abused from 1997-2013.
The committee will also question police and crime commissioner Shaun Wright, who has resisted calls to resign.The committee will also question police and crime commissioner Shaun Wright, who has resisted calls to resign.
Mr Hughes, who was chief constable from 2004-2011, said he had "no understanding of the scale and scope of what was going on in Rotherham".Mr Hughes, who was chief constable from 2004-2011, said he had "no understanding of the scale and scope of what was going on in Rotherham".
'Impossible to believe''Impossible to believe'
"This is not something I would have given a blind eye to, nor something I would have wilfully ignored," he told committee chairman Keith Vaz."This is not something I would have given a blind eye to, nor something I would have wilfully ignored," he told committee chairman Keith Vaz.
During tense exchanges, Mr Vaz said: "The committee doesn't accept that you didn't know anything about child grooming in your area." During terse exchanges, Mr Vaz said: "The committee doesn't accept that you didn't know anything about child grooming in your area."
He said the former chief constable's claims of ignorance were "impossible to believe".He said the former chief constable's claims of ignorance were "impossible to believe".
Mr Hughes said to the "best of his memory" he had not seen three of the four reports that highlighted the problem of child grooming in Rotherham during the period he was chief constable.Mr Hughes said to the "best of his memory" he had not seen three of the four reports that highlighted the problem of child grooming in Rotherham during the period he was chief constable.
He told the committee: "This is a hideous crime, I am deeply embarrassed, I can say with honesty I had no idea of the scale and scope of this."He told the committee: "This is a hideous crime, I am deeply embarrassed, I can say with honesty I had no idea of the scale and scope of this."
Mr Vaz told Mr Hughes: "We find your evidence totally unconvincing.Mr Vaz told Mr Hughes: "We find your evidence totally unconvincing.
"Your contrition today I think is welcome but I think it needs to go much further"."Your contrition today I think is welcome but I think it needs to go much further".
The current chief constable, David Crompton, was asked what he would do to ensure the 25 new victims of child sexual exploitation identified since Professor Jay's report was published would have their perpetrators brought to justice.The current chief constable, David Crompton, was asked what he would do to ensure the 25 new victims of child sexual exploitation identified since Professor Jay's report was published would have their perpetrators brought to justice.
Mr Crompton said he could say "with absolute conviction" his officers were "clear on how serious an issue this is".Mr Crompton said he could say "with absolute conviction" his officers were "clear on how serious an issue this is".
He added: "I've accepted the contents of the Jay report. Things are better now than they were in the past".He added: "I've accepted the contents of the Jay report. Things are better now than they were in the past".
The chief constable also told the committee that an incident where a 13-year-old girl was arrested for being drunk and disorderly when she was found with a group of men was going to be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The chief constable also told the committee that an incident where a 13-year-old girl was arrested for being drunk and disorderly when she was found with a group of men was going to be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The Home Affairs Select Committee will also hear evidence from senior Rotherham Council official Joyce Thacker and NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless, who is leading a review into the Home Office's handling of abuse allegations. Rotherham Council's current head of children's services, Joyce Thacker, also appeared before the committee and told them she had no intention of resigning her post.
Mr Wright, Mr Crompton and Ms Thacker previously gave evidence to the committee in 2012, when Rotherham Council and South Yorkshire Police were criticised for their handling of child sexual exploitation. Ms Thacker said: "I have known there was a huge problem of child sex exploitation, incredibly difficult to get this heard.
"We knew about child sex exploitation but not the scale of it. I don't accept dereliction of duty, but I could have done more."
She also said police did not appear to take the issue seriously.
The chief executive of Rotherham Council Martin Kimber told the committee he felt "terribly sorry" for the victims and their families.
Mr Kimber, who has announced he will step down from his £160,000 a year role in December, was asked why no-one at the council had been dismissed or asked to stand-down.
He said he wanted to do things "properly".
Mr Wright, who was a Labour councillor in Rotherham and former cabinet member for children, is expected to give evidence to the committee later.
Professor Alexis Jay's report outlined how children had been subjected to trafficking, rape and other sexual exploitation over a 16-year period and how their abuse had been ignored by a range of agencies, including police, councillors and council officials.Professor Alexis Jay's report outlined how children had been subjected to trafficking, rape and other sexual exploitation over a 16-year period and how their abuse had been ignored by a range of agencies, including police, councillors and council officials.
Earlier Mr Vaz said the committee wanted to know how the sexual exploitation of children on a "horrifying scale" had been allowed to go unchallenged for so long.Earlier Mr Vaz said the committee wanted to know how the sexual exploitation of children on a "horrifying scale" had been allowed to go unchallenged for so long.