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| Tory child sex ring claim: Cameron orders urgent investigation | Tory child sex ring claim: Cameron orders urgent investigation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has asked government departments to report to Number 10 urgently over allegations of a child sex ring involving former Conservative politicians three decades ago. | David Cameron has asked government departments to report to Number 10 urgently over allegations of a child sex ring involving former Conservative politicians three decades ago. |
| It is understood the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood is co-ordinating the inquiries involving the Welsh Office and the Home Office, as well as government records. | It is understood the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood is co-ordinating the inquiries involving the Welsh Office and the Home Office, as well as government records. |
| The move follows a call from the children's commissioner for Wales for a new inquiry into abuse at north Wales care homes in the 1970s and 80s and claims that a senior Tory was involved in a paedophile ring. | The move follows a call from the children's commissioner for Wales for a new inquiry into abuse at north Wales care homes in the 1970s and 80s and claims that a senior Tory was involved in a paedophile ring. |
| The prime minister's spokesman said: "We are clear that these allegations need to be properly investigated and we need to get to the bottom of what precisely happened. | The prime minister's spokesman said: "We are clear that these allegations need to be properly investigated and we need to get to the bottom of what precisely happened. |
| The spokesman added that the prime minister was taking a close interest in the allegations being made. It is likely that the quick internal inquiry will decide if something more formal and substantial needs to be launched, or whether such an inquiry would run across police investigations. | The spokesman added that the prime minister was taking a close interest in the allegations being made. It is likely that the quick internal inquiry will decide if something more formal and substantial needs to be launched, or whether such an inquiry would run across police investigations. |
| Keith Towler, the children's commissioner for Wales, intervened after a victim of the north Wales care home scandal in the 1970s said he and others had been "swept under the carpet" despite a three-year inquiry in the late 1990s. Steven Messham, one of hundreds of children who were abused over two decades, told BBC Newsnight that the terms of reference of the Waterhouse inquiry meant he was unable to raise the matter of abuse that took place outside the care system. He said an unnamed then senior Conservative politician was involved in abuse. | Keith Towler, the children's commissioner for Wales, intervened after a victim of the north Wales care home scandal in the 1970s said he and others had been "swept under the carpet" despite a three-year inquiry in the late 1990s. Steven Messham, one of hundreds of children who were abused over two decades, told BBC Newsnight that the terms of reference of the Waterhouse inquiry meant he was unable to raise the matter of abuse that took place outside the care system. He said an unnamed then senior Conservative politician was involved in abuse. |
| Towler said the only way to resolve the issue was for a full inquiry. | Towler said the only way to resolve the issue was for a full inquiry. |
| Towler told BBC Radio 5: "The fact that we have someone on camera now who was clearly a victim of appalling abuse in Bryn Estyn children's home back in the 1970s and 80s, saying that what he wanted to say was outside of the terms of reference, and people told him that he could not say these things and he couldn't talk about people who had abused him, is clearly wrong." | Towler told BBC Radio 5: "The fact that we have someone on camera now who was clearly a victim of appalling abuse in Bryn Estyn children's home back in the 1970s and 80s, saying that what he wanted to say was outside of the terms of reference, and people told him that he could not say these things and he couldn't talk about people who had abused him, is clearly wrong." |
| Messham said he was called a liar when he tried to report the abuse to the police in the late 1970s. Towler said: "The only way that we can clearly put that to bed is to say, at the top of the tree, we will conduct that inquiry and we will allow that inquiry to go as far as it needs to go to make sure that the evidence that witnesses want to give and that victims want to give is fully heard." | Messham said he was called a liar when he tried to report the abuse to the police in the late 1970s. Towler said: "The only way that we can clearly put that to bed is to say, at the top of the tree, we will conduct that inquiry and we will allow that inquiry to go as far as it needs to go to make sure that the evidence that witnesses want to give and that victims want to give is fully heard." |
| "Unless you do that, that level of suspicion will always be around that there is a cover-up … No one should be protected. Society needs to know that it is clean in this sense." | "Unless you do that, that level of suspicion will always be around that there is a cover-up … No one should be protected. Society needs to know that it is clean in this sense." |
| Ian Shannon, deputy chief constable of North Wales police, said: "We are seeking to establish if there are any allegations that require new or further investigation. We will also be asking the children's commissioner for Wales if he has any additional information that may assist us. Clearly the needs of victims and the protection of the public are at the forefront of our minds at this time." | |
| At his monthly press conference, the Welsh first minister said the allegations were being taken very seriously by the Welsh government. Carwyn Jones called for victims of any alleged abuse who thought their complaints had not been dealt with properly to contact the police. He said that government officials had been in touch with North Wales police. | |
| Jones said he had also sought "urgent" advice from officials on the terms of reference that the Waterhouse inquiry into the child abuse was working under so that he could understand fully what was included and what was excluded. | Jones said he had also sought "urgent" advice from officials on the terms of reference that the Waterhouse inquiry into the child abuse was working under so that he could understand fully what was included and what was excluded. |
| The first minister said that Number 10 had been in touch with his officials over the issue and he had invited the children's commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, to meet him on Tuesday. | The first minister said that Number 10 had been in touch with his officials over the issue and he had invited the children's commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, to meet him on Tuesday. |
| A £13m investigation by Sir Ronald Waterhouse QC heard from 240 people abused as children in 40 homes in north Wales. The inquiry's report mentioned 200 people who were abusers, alleged abusers or had failed to protect children in the homes, although not all of them have been named. | A £13m investigation by Sir Ronald Waterhouse QC heard from 240 people abused as children in 40 homes in north Wales. The inquiry's report mentioned 200 people who were abusers, alleged abusers or had failed to protect children in the homes, although not all of them have been named. |
| Messham said: "In the home it was the standard abuse which was violent and sexual. Outside it was like you were sold, we were taken to the Crest hotel in Wrexham, mainly on Sunday nights, where they would rent rooms. | Messham said: "In the home it was the standard abuse which was violent and sexual. Outside it was like you were sold, we were taken to the Crest hotel in Wrexham, mainly on Sunday nights, where they would rent rooms. |
| "One particular night that I always recall is when I was basically raped, tied down and abused by nine different men." | "One particular night that I always recall is when I was basically raped, tied down and abused by nine different men." |
| Meanwhile, the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood, called for the Waterhouse inquiry to be opened at once. | Meanwhile, the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood, called for the Waterhouse inquiry to be opened at once. |
| Wood, a former probation officer, said: "It is crucial for the victims of this horrific abuse that these allegations are properly investigated. They deserve a full and open hearing. It appears that there is further institutionalised abuse that needs to be exposed, in addition to the scandal that was uncovered and investigated more than a decade ago. | Wood, a former probation officer, said: "It is crucial for the victims of this horrific abuse that these allegations are properly investigated. They deserve a full and open hearing. It appears that there is further institutionalised abuse that needs to be exposed, in addition to the scandal that was uncovered and investigated more than a decade ago. |
| "These men in a position of power have so far been protected and that cannot be allowed to continue. They have to be brought to justice for their actions. The victims deserve justice, and the wider public has to be able to have confidence in the system. | "These men in a position of power have so far been protected and that cannot be allowed to continue. They have to be brought to justice for their actions. The victims deserve justice, and the wider public has to be able to have confidence in the system. |
| "I fully support the calls of Wales's children's commissioner for an inquiry. The office of the children's commissioner was established as a result of the Waterhouse inquiry and it is important that he is empowered to do his job properly. | "I fully support the calls of Wales's children's commissioner for an inquiry. The office of the children's commissioner was established as a result of the Waterhouse inquiry and it is important that he is empowered to do his job properly. |
| "I would like to see the Waterhouse inquiry reopened with its terms of reference expanded. The Party of Wales will be raising this with the Welsh government in the assembly as a matter of urgency this week to see exactly what can be done." | "I would like to see the Waterhouse inquiry reopened with its terms of reference expanded. The Party of Wales will be raising this with the Welsh government in the assembly as a matter of urgency this week to see exactly what can be done." |