PCC Shaun Wright resigns over Rotherham child abuse scandal

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Report from the BBC – “South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright has resigned over the Rotherham child abuse scandal.

Mr Wright faced repeated calls to step down in the wake of a report which found at least 1,400 children were abused in the town from 1997 to 2013.

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He was the head of children’s services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2010.

Mr Wright said he was stepping down to ensure the “important issues” outlined in the report can be discussed and considered “without distraction”.

In a statement, he said: “My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay’s report.

“This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody’s focus – the 1,400 victims outlined in the report – and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them.

“With this in mind, I feel that it is now right to step down… for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction.” “