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Rotherham abuse: PCC Shaun Wright faces calls to resign Rotherham abuse: 'No confidence' in PCC Shaun Wright
(about 1 hour later)
South Yorkshire police commissioner Shaun Wright has faced angry calls from members of the public to quit over the Rotherham child abuse scandal. A vote of no confidence in South Yorkshire police commissioner Shaun Wright has been passed by the county's Police and Crime Panel.
Mr Wright was heckled as he appeared before South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Panel for the first time since a report revealed 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham from 1997-2013. Mr Wright was appearing before the panel for the first time since a report revealed 1,400 children were abused in Rotherham from 1997-2013.
Among those to call for his resignation were two victims of child sexual abuse. During the meeting he faced angry calls from members of the public to resign.
Mr Wright said he would not resign from the position he took up in 2012. However, Mr Wright said he "genuinely believed" his continuation in the role was in the "best interest" of victims.
Mr Wright, who was elected as the county's police and crime commissioner in 2012, was in charge of children's services in Rotherham from 2005 to 2010. Mr Wright, who was elected as the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC) in 2012, was in charge of children's services in Rotherham from 2005 to 2010.
Panel chair Harry Harpham said he would write to the home secretary to endorse the Home Affairs Committee's call for legislation to change the law on PCCs so they can be sacked in "exceptional circumstances".
Following the vote, one panel member, UKIP's Caven Vines, said he was resigning from the committee.
Mr Wright left the meeting before the vote was passed.
Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was assessing a referral from South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Panel relating to Mr Wright.
'You were a disgrace''You were a disgrace'
One woman, who said she had been abused as a child said: "I've had to live with this for 12 years and what have you done? A spokesman said: "The referral stems from two complaints about Mr Wright's role at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and his knowledge of child sexual exploitation allegations.
"The IPCC can investigate police and crime commissioners if there is evidence that they may have committed a criminal offence, either while in office or prior to them becoming police and crime commissioners."
Suspending a police and crime commissioner
Under the legislation that created the roles in 2012, a PCC can only be suspended if:
(a) the commissioner has been charged in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man with an offence, and
(b) the offence is one which carries a maximum term of imprisonment exceeding two years
Among those to call for his resignation were two victims of child sexual abuse.
One woman, who said she had been abused as a child, said: "I've had to live with this for 12 years and what have you done?
"You've still got your job. You should stand down.""You've still got your job. You should stand down."
Another member of the public asked: "Does anybody in this room still have confidence in Shaun Wright apart from Mr Wright?"Another member of the public asked: "Does anybody in this room still have confidence in Shaun Wright apart from Mr Wright?"
A third person said his 12-year-old granddaughter was arrested for being drunk and disorderly by police officers who let her four adult abusers go free.A third person said his 12-year-old granddaughter was arrested for being drunk and disorderly by police officers who let her four adult abusers go free.
The man said: "You were a disgrace, mate. If I had a gun I would shoot you."The man said: "You were a disgrace, mate. If I had a gun I would shoot you."
Mr Wright responded, saying: "Clearly, if that took place, it's an absolute disgrace."Mr Wright responded, saying: "Clearly, if that took place, it's an absolute disgrace."
Responding to calls for him to stand down Mr Wright said: "I've always acted in the best interests of young people and I've always addressed the inadequacies within South Yorkshire Police since I took up the role as Police and Crime Commissioner. Responding to calls for him to stand down, Mr Wright said: "I've always acted in the best interests of young people and I've always addressed the inadequacies within South Yorkshire Police since I took up the role as police and crime commissioner.
"I've already set a plan in place over the last two years to address this and significant improvements have been made and I wish to continue to see that programme through over the coming months."I've already set a plan in place over the last two years to address this and significant improvements have been made and I wish to continue to see that programme through over the coming months.
"I have huge regrets that I was not more aware of the sheer scale of the issue and I reiterate my apology for any part I played in the systematic failings.""I have huge regrets that I was not more aware of the sheer scale of the issue and I reiterate my apology for any part I played in the systematic failings."
He later told panel chair Harry Harpham: "Stepping aside would have been, to my mind, the easiest way to deal with this. He later told Mr Harpham: "Stepping aside would have been, to my mind, the easiest way to deal with this.
"I'm prepared to take the criticism, be held to account - as I have been in many forums in the last two weeks - and the only way to tackle the issue is to focus on what's been put forward in the [Professor Alexis] Jay Report."I'm prepared to take the criticism, be held to account - as I have been in many forums in the last two weeks - and the only way to tackle the issue is to focus on what's been put forward in the [Professor Alexis] Jay Report.
"My record as police and crime commissioner in tackling child sexual exploitation speaks for itself and I genuinely believe that my continuation in the role is in the best interests of past, present and potential future victims of this heinous crime.""My record as police and crime commissioner in tackling child sexual exploitation speaks for itself and I genuinely believe that my continuation in the role is in the best interests of past, present and potential future victims of this heinous crime."