CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Rotherham MBC 'did not investigate' alleged removal of CSE files

Rotherham MBC failed to investigate claims of stolen files and deleted computer records relating to child sexual exploitation (CSE) at the height of the scandal, an independent investigation has found.  

Rotherham MBC failed to investigate claims of stolen files and deleted computer records relating to child sexual exploitation (CSE) at the height of the scandal, an independent investigation has found.  

A report, published today, concluded that ‘on the balance of probability' it was likely that a Home Office researcher's files were removed from council offices and computer data impaired in 2002.

The researcher, who was at the time working for the Risky Business project, which was established in 1997 to look into CSE and was based in youth services at the council, filed a grievance against the authority.

However, following the departure of the researcher, referred to in the report as Individual F, from the council, Rotherham closed the grievance and did not follow up the matter.

The report read: ‘By leaving Individual F's claims unaddressed, the council missed an opportunity to confirm at the time whether any removal of documents and/or impairment of computer files had occurred or not.

‘In view of the significance of the matter, the council's procedures should have led the council to look at the matter outside of the grievance.

‘Not least, there should have been recognition of the potential loss of data, reportable under the Data Protection Act.'

The report said there was ‘good evidence' that a ‘significant number of people were told at the time' about the alleged incident.

It also noted that, due to the growing prominence of Risky Business, there ‘might well have been strong motivation for individuals to prevent the information held in Risky Business files from being reported to statutory agencies'.

The alleged ‘raid' was widely publicised in October 2014 after the Home Affairs Select Committee published a report saying: ‘An unknown individual subsequently gained access to [the researcher's] office and removed all of the data relating to the Home Office work.

‘There were no signs of a forced entry and the action involved moving through key-coded and locked security doors.'

After this, senior management and members at Rotherham claimed they were unaware of any allegations, prompting then chief executive Martin Kimber to commission investigators to carry out the probe.

The alleged incident did not result in the loss of information because the duplicates were held.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Mayors and the devo dilemma

By Mark Sandford | 20 November 2024

Mark Sandford sets out the arguments made for and against mayors, and looks at ways to shift the balance of power between metro mayors and the council leader...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Thurrock lodges High Court claim against APSE councils

By Paul Marinko | 18 November 2024

Debt-ridden Thurrock Council has filed a High Court claim against 23 councils in an escalation of its dispute with the Association for Public Service Excelle...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Co-production is the key to success

By Georgina Walton | 08 November 2024

Georgina Walton and David Rees look at how the innovative use of co-production at Kent CC is improving the deployment of technology enabled care to support t...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

A lesson from America

By Barry Quirk | 08 November 2024

Barry Quirk offers his perspective on the build-up to the election of America’s President, and asks what are implications of the Trump victory globally and f...

Popular articles by Sam Clayden