Timeline of child sexual exploitation work
This is a summary of corporate actions taken by the Council and others in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE).
June 2025
In June 2025, Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB published a government-commissioned National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (the ‘Casey report’) which referenced the Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation.
January 2025
In January 2025, Telford’s successful approach to tackling CSE was cited by Government, visit the GOV.UK website to view the statement to Parliament about the next steps to tackle child sexual exploitation. In February 2025, Telford & Wrekin Council issued its second annual report into CSE and committed to working with Government to share best practice nationally.
Download the second Joint CSE Review Group 2024 annual report
July 2024
The final progress report of our Independent Inquiry was published in July 2024, with the Chair stating that the Council’s response to the recommendations ‘has been without exception positive’. He cited Telford’s approach as one from which others nationally can learn and this was echoed by the Government who are now engaging Tom Crowther KC to ensure other authorities follow the work we have undertaken and take the same approach.
2019 - 2022
Telford’s Independent Inquiry started in 2019 and was published on 12 July 2022 (ahead of the publication of the IICSA which came in October 2022). The Council immediately accepted all of the 47 recommendations in the report and set up an independent panel (comprising survivors, councillors, police and heath), with an independent chair (appointed from a shortlist settled by the survivors, and then interviewed by a representative of the Council and one of the survivors), to set about the task of meeting all of the recommendations.
2015 - 2018
In March 2015 the Government’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was established and proposed to take a two-pronged approach. This would include a specific institution approach (to look at organisations such as the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) and a thematic approach to investigate child sexual exploitation by organised networks. In relation to this thematic approach, the IICSA Chair specifically cited cities and towns in England including Telford and how it would assess the extent to which the wide range of relevant authorities had learned lessons, implemented recommendations and put in place effective strategies to prevent child sexual exploitation in the future.
Download the IICSA Chair's November 2015 statement
In 2016, “Telford & Wrekin Council Scrutiny Committee, publishes ‘Multi-Agency working against CSE’ which acknowledged that “despite the success of Operation Chalice, it is clear that CSE is still taking place in Telford & Wrekin”. The local MP calls for a government led public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford. This prompts a letter from the council leader to the Home Secretary to say a further inquiry is “not necessary” as IICSA have already committed to looking at Telford as part of their wider inquiry and the area have had recent Ofsted inspections. The letter is countersigned by the Chief Officer of Telford & Wrekin’s Clinical Commissioning Group, the Chair of Telford Wrekin’s Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner.” Taken from the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB – June 2025 (the ‘Casey report’).
See page 33 of the June 2025 ‘Casey report’ (.pdf Size: 1795Kb)
In 2017 the Council also welcomed Home Office officials to Telford and Wrekin who were positive about the work being undertaken by the Council and partners relating to CSE.
In 2018, “The Sunday Mirror run a front-page news story on Telford entitled “Worst Ever Child Abuse Scandal Exposed”… Media interest prompts the Council to write to IICSA, asking them to bring forward a review of Telford, who IICSA have already committed to looking into as part of their wider investigation, and ask them to consider whether a more focussed institutional specific investigation into the area is needed. The council leader also writes to the Home Secretary to ask them to begin an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford. As neither IICSA or the Home Office agree, the council decide to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford themselves.” Taken from the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CC - June 2025 (the 'Casey report').
See page 36 of the June 2025 ‘Casey report’ (.pdf Size: 1795Kb)
From this point, the Council developed its plans to commission its own independent Inquiry. To ensure the independence of the Inquiry, an independent organisation (Eversheds Sutherland) was commissioned and they commissioned Tom Crowther KC as the independent chair.
During this period of establishing the independent governance of the Independent Inquiry, the Council was also already working to improve its CSE response.
Download Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet report - July 2016 (.pdf Size: 471Kb)
In 2018, we maintained the integrity of our process despite several attempts to get the Council to rush the Inquiry.
Download the Home Office letter from April 2018 (.pdf Size: 74Kb)
Download the Council’s September 2018 response to local Member of Parliament (MP) (.pdf Size: 174Kb)