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'No cover-up found' in abuse review 'No cover-up found' in abuse review
(35 minutes later)
A review has found no evidence that files relating to child abuse by prominent figures were "deliberately or systematically removed or destroyed". A review of the handling of allegations of child abuse by prominent figures has found no evidence that records were deliberately removed or destroyed.
The government asked NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless to look into how the Home Office handled files alleging abuse from 1979-99. Ministers asked the head of the NSPCC to examine how the Home Office dealt with files alleging abuse from 1979-99.
His report said it was "not possible" to say whether files were removed to "cover up" organised abuse - but it found "nothing to support" such a concern. Peter Wanless's report said it was "not possible" to say whether files were removed to cover up abuse - but found "nothing to support" such a concern.
The government said it had accepted the report's three recommendations.
The report's authors, Mr Wanless and Richard Whittam QC, concluded that they had "found nothing to support a concern that files had been deliberately or systematically removed or destroyed to cover up organised child abuse".
The report also found no evidence that the Home Office ever funded the Paedophile Information Exchange.
'Significant limitations'
But it makes clear that the "records management convention" across police forces was that records relating to allegations that didn't lead to a charge were destroyed after two years.
And it states that Home Office procedures placed "significant limitations" on the ability to establish a perfect record of what was known at the time.
Responding to the report, Home Secretary Theresa May said she had written to its authors "seeking further reassurance".
She said she wanted "their consideration of how the police and prosecution authorities" handled any files they received, and whether any material was passed to MI5 - and if so what action was taken.
The report endorses the findings of an initial review, published last year, but makes further recommendations about record-keeping at the Home Office.