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| Criminal investigation to be extended after damning report into Rotherham sex abuse scandal | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A criminal investigation is to be extended after a Government-commissioned report into the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal found the authority to be "not fit for purpose". | A criminal investigation is to be extended after a Government-commissioned report into the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal found the authority to be "not fit for purpose". |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced measures to replace the "wholly dysfunctional" political leadership of the council, just moments after the authority's entire cabinet announced its intention to resign in the wake of Louise Casey's inspection report. | Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced measures to replace the "wholly dysfunctional" political leadership of the council, just moments after the authority's entire cabinet announced its intention to resign in the wake of Louise Casey's inspection report. |
| The National Crime Agency meanwhile has said its ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town was to be extended following the findings of the report. | The National Crime Agency meanwhile has said its ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation in the South Yorkshire town was to be extended following the findings of the report. |
| The NCA said it will "examine a number of potentially criminal matters identified during a recent inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council". | The NCA said it will "examine a number of potentially criminal matters identified during a recent inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council". |
| Ms Casey was asked by Mr Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year which found more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking in the town between 1997 and 2013. | Ms Casey was asked by Mr Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year which found more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking in the town between 1997 and 2013. |
| Louise Casey was asked by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year (PA) | Louise Casey was asked by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year (PA) |
| Today, in her report, Ms Casey said the inspection revealed "past and present failures to accept, understand and combat the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE), resulting in a lack of support for victims and insufficient action against known perpetrators." | Today, in her report, Ms Casey said the inspection revealed "past and present failures to accept, understand and combat the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE), resulting in a lack of support for victims and insufficient action against known perpetrators." |
| She said: "The council's culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced 'political correctness' have cemented its failures. The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." | She said: "The council's culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced 'political correctness' have cemented its failures. The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." |
| The report said: "Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is not fit for purpose. | The report said: "Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is not fit for purpose. |
| "It is failing in its legal obligation to secure continuous improvement in the way in which it exercises its functions. In particular, it is failing in its duties to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm." | "It is failing in its legal obligation to secure continuous improvement in the way in which it exercises its functions. In particular, it is failing in its duties to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm." |
| Ms Casey said the council "demonstrates a resolute denial of what has happened in the borough". | Ms Casey said the council "demonstrates a resolute denial of what has happened in the borough". |
| She said her inspection team found "a council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures" and "an archaic culture of sexism, bullying and discomfort around race". | She said her inspection team found "a council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures" and "an archaic culture of sexism, bullying and discomfort around race". |
| She said it had failed to address past weaknesses in children's care and had "ineffective leadership and management, including political leadership". | She said it had failed to address past weaknesses in children's care and had "ineffective leadership and management, including political leadership". |
| The report highlighted "a culture of covering up uncomfortable truths, silencing whistle-blowers and paying off staff rather than dealing with difficult issues." | The report highlighted "a culture of covering up uncomfortable truths, silencing whistle-blowers and paying off staff rather than dealing with difficult issues." |
| It said: "RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistle-blowers." | It said: "RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistle-blowers." |
| Ms Casey also endorsed the findings of Professor Alexis Jay's report which caused huge controversy when it was published in August last year. | Ms Casey also endorsed the findings of Professor Alexis Jay's report which caused huge controversy when it was published in August last year. |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced measures to replace the 'wholly dysfunctional' political leadership of the council (Getty) | Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced measures to replace the 'wholly dysfunctional' political leadership of the council (Getty) |
| Ms Casey, who is director-general for troubled families at the Communities Department, was also tasked with looking at all aspects of how the council liaises with other organisations, including the police. | Ms Casey, who is director-general for troubled families at the Communities Department, was also tasked with looking at all aspects of how the council liaises with other organisations, including the police. |
| Mr Pickles today told MPs he will impose early elections in 2016 on the council and proposes to send in commissioners to take over the responsibilities of the council's cabinet in the wake of the investigation. | Mr Pickles today told MPs he will impose early elections in 2016 on the council and proposes to send in commissioners to take over the responsibilities of the council's cabinet in the wake of the investigation. |
| He said the report showed the council was failing in its public duties and he would exercise powers given to him by law. | He said the report showed the council was failing in its public duties and he would exercise powers given to him by law. |
| In a statement to MPs he said: "My proposals are designed to give the council the new start it needs and to put an immediate end to the council's on-going service and governance failure. | In a statement to MPs he said: "My proposals are designed to give the council the new start it needs and to put an immediate end to the council's on-going service and governance failure. |
| "I am seeking to make an order under the Local Government Act 2000 to move Rotherham council to all out elections in 2016 and every fourth year thereafter. | "I am seeking to make an order under the Local Government Act 2000 to move Rotherham council to all out elections in 2016 and every fourth year thereafter. |
| "The 2016 elections will be an opportunity for the people of Rotherham to renew the membership of their council and elect those they have confidence in." | "The 2016 elections will be an opportunity for the people of Rotherham to renew the membership of their council and elect those they have confidence in." |
| He continued: "In the immediate term, I am minded to appoint commissioners who will provide new leadership taking over the roles of the currently wholly dysfunctional cabinet. | He continued: "In the immediate term, I am minded to appoint commissioners who will provide new leadership taking over the roles of the currently wholly dysfunctional cabinet. |
| "I am proposing they will therefore initially exercise all the functions currently exercised by the cabinet - that is all the council's executive functions." | "I am proposing they will therefore initially exercise all the functions currently exercised by the cabinet - that is all the council's executive functions." |
| The council's cabinet announced its collective resignation minutes before Mr Pickles stood up to make his statement in the Commons. | The council's cabinet announced its collective resignation minutes before Mr Pickles stood up to make his statement in the Commons. |
| The ruling Labour cabinet issued a statement which said: "As a Cabinet, whatever the details, as the political leadership of the council we must take responsibility. | The ruling Labour cabinet issued a statement which said: "As a Cabinet, whatever the details, as the political leadership of the council we must take responsibility. |
| "We therefore announce our intention to resign our positions as soon as transitional arrangements can be put in place." | "We therefore announce our intention to resign our positions as soon as transitional arrangements can be put in place." |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |