In 2018, Telford & Wrekin Council commissioned and funded an Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation (IITCSE).

The Council wanted as much independence as possible so the Inquiry could do its work properly. 

We worked with a commissioning body and individuals with lived experience of child sexual exploitation who formed a committee, alongside people who had relevant experiences.

Together they appointed Tom Crowther KC, a former High Court Judge, to chair the Independent Inquiry. The committee also helped prepare the terms of reference for the Inquiry.

July 2022


In July 2022, the Independent Inquiry published its report. The Inquiry Chair, Tom Crowther KC, endorsed our progress since 2016. We immediately accepted all of the report’s recommendations, many of which were already being delivered.

 

We also announced we would be working with lived experience individuals to implement the recommendations alongside our partners in police and health.

July 2024


The Chair of the Independent Inquiry was invited to return to the Borough to review the work done to address each recommendation and published his two-year report in July 2024.

Download the Report of the Two-year Review of the Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation – July 2024 (.pdf Size: 104Kb)

In his statement, Chair, Tom Crowther KC, said of the progress that had been made: “What I have found has been without exception positive.”

In his closing comments, he added:

“People will not forget Telford’s history of child sexual exploitation – and nor should they. But in my view Telford’s approach – the Council’s approach – to the Recommendations, to engagement with its key partners and most of all with those three people it let down as children, now stands as a model. All involved – but particularly the Consultees, who put aside hurt and anger and years of being dismissed in order to ensure that next generations are better protected than they were – deserve our very high praise.”

Download the full Statement from the IITCSE Chair – July 2024 (.pdf Size: 2031Kb)

 

Watch Inquiry Chair, Tom Crowther KC, speaking about the findings in his two-year report in July 2024