Rochdale MP calls for law to ensure 'no more Cyril Smiths'

Simon Danczuk MP for Rochdale

A drastic ‘culture change’ is needed to allow whistleblowers to expose child sex abuse, MP Simon Danczuk told a gathering of victims and campaigners.

Speaking as flowers were laid in Westminster to commemorate victims of child abuse, Mr Danczuk called for measures to be put in place to give ‘decent frontline workers’ the power to ‘prevent more Cyril Smiths from being able to act with impunity’ .

He said: “I feel ministers are paying lip service to the problem. They recognise it’s an issue, but they’re not doing enough to drive home the culture change necessary to make sure whistleblowers are heard.

“Sex abuse is a monstrous crime.

“It destroys lives. But if we’re going to prevent more Cyril Smiths from being able to act with impunity and stop grooming gangs and other offenders from being able to commit crimes without consequences, then we have to unlock that fear.

“At the moment it’s acting as a ball and chain holding back decent frontline workers from doing the right thing.

“Fear is the shield that protects abusers from prosecution.”  (more...)

Rochdale MP calls for law to ensure 'no more Cyril Smiths'