Danczuk ‘very concerned’ over abuse probe timeframe

A campaigning MP is “very concerned” about claims that the long-delayed inquiry into historic child sex abuse could go on for eight years.

Labour’s Simon Danczuk said it could be a case of civil servants being “overly cautious” but added that the inquiry needs to be “more efficient”.

The probe, headed by New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard, may not publish its final report until 2023, according to The Sunday Times.

Tapes leaked to the newspaper are said to have featured a senior Home Office official saying the inquiry could “go on for eight years” during a meeting with campaigners last month.

Reacting to the report, Mr Danczuk said: “I’m very concerned that it might take that long. Many of the survivors of child sexual abuse have already had to wait a long time since many of these crimes were committed.

“It’s also took a long time for the inquiry itself to be set up. And I’d be concerned if the civil servants who are involved in organising and running the inquiry are predicting such a lengthy inquiry.”

He said officials may have decided to err on the side of caution, but said it is important to remember that a lot of the work has already been done.

Referring to recent abuse inquiries and reviews, Mr Danczuk said the job of this inquiry is to “bring all that together”.

He said: “It should build upon what’s already gone before, rather than starting afresh.”

The MP said he thought survivors of abuse would be “disappointed” at the time frame suggested.

“I can’t see why it should take so long,” he added.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2014, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Nick Ansell/PA Wire.