Today I’m proud of the work I have been doing for the unheard, marginalised ignored and abused members of our society. Read on.
During the last few years I have admired the work of Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (SOSA).
They represented hundreds of people who were abused whilst in the care of Lambeth Council.
SOSA was able to get over £140m from Lambeth Council in compensation paid to those affected by the Shirley Oaks abuse scandal.
I sat and listened to the stories of those affected by sexual abuse. A friend of mine told me at the age of 35, that he was abused by one of our teachers at school, one by one others came forward. I felt pig sick that I never knew anything about it. They suffered in silence.
I was determined that people who committed crimes like this should not hide any longer.
Working with SOSA in their endeavour to get the 3 year time bar status lifted was time consuming, however, made easier by knowing that perpetrators could no longer hide behind the three year rule.
Those police officers involved in avoiding justice and the families who were kept out of the Lambeth legal redress scheme can now have their day in civil court.
Whilst I must thank the hard work of Dr Raymond Stevenson & Ms Lucia Hinton of SOSA, it has been a cross Party affair.
The agenda is not pretty or fashionable, a lot of people stay clear of it, however, when you know close friends who have been abused and not been able to communicate it to you for over 20-25 years it focuses your mind.
I must also thank other people that made this ground breaking day happen:
Helen Hayes MP
Vicky Foxcroft MP
Jess Phillips MP
Kevin Hollinrake MP
Roderick Lynch Chair, Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality
Baroness Jenny Jones (House of Lords)
Caroline Russell
GLA Chair Police and Crime committee
Cllr Scott Ainslie (Lambeth)
Amy Clowrey (Swaitalakis)
Imran Khan KC (IKP & Partners)
The hard work starts now. Civil Legal redress can now take place.
Here it is in black and white:
The three-year time limit for victims to bring personal injury claims will be removed. So will the burden of proof that currently rests on victims’ shoulders, who must prove it is possible to hold a fair trial for one to go ahead. Now, that burden is lifted off victims and placed on defendants, who must show a fair trial cannot proceed if they intend to block one. This will enable cases to be heard more easily, and protect victims from reliving their trauma.
The Law of the Apologies will also be amended to encourage employers to apologise to people wronged by their employees, where currently they fear doing so because of institutional liability, meaning that victims are likelier to receive apologies from schools, care facilities or hospitals for abuse carried out by an individual at these institutions.
The Government has listened to victims, survivors and experts through two consultations – and they have said they want action.
Lib Dem friends and colleagues if you have constituents who have suffered abuse and who have been “time barred” as of today they have a voice please amplify it.
Watch the Lift the time bar campaign video:
* Roderick Lynch is Chair of the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality.
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16 Comments
Take hart Mr lynch that which is kept in the dark will always find its way into the light
This is great work! The swamp of abusers will be shaking in fear today. Chikdren just became safer in this UK cover-up culture.
Deep & profoundly sensitive piece
Roderick what a truly appalling situation. I don’t even know how to express my grief to former classmates and those who suffered at the hands of predators.
At the same time many congratulations on changing the law. Who says you have to be elected to make change (well helps if someone is)? I think the whole party can comfortably say you are a strong and vibrant campaigner.
‘Justice delayed is just denied…’ 157 years on and it’s as true now as it was then.
It is so good that this time ban has been lifted. Three years is a totally inadequate length of time for victims to deal with events which traumatised them when they were children.
A truly horrific case. I pay tribute to the brave survivors and the work of SOSA in bringing this case to light.
Incredibly important work, that will have deep ramifications for survivors of abuse now and in future. It is painful to admit that there are so many stories of historic abuse, particularly of Black & minoritised & working class children, wrongly taken from their families & placed in substandard & abusive ‘special’ education. This work will stand as be a beacon of hope.
Well done and a heartfelt thank you on your good work.
Violence against women and girls should never be overlooked or normalized. When considering institutional abuse—like that documented in the Catholic Church or in the harrowing stories shared in the series 3 Girls—we see a troubling pattern of systemic failures. These failures repeatedly neglect to support those who need it most, often silencing victims and enabling cycles of abuse to persist.
That’s why initiatives like this, which seek to provide legal redress for abuse victims, are so essential. They bring long-hidden injustices into the light, raise awareness, and offer a tangible pathway toward accountability and change. With efforts like these, we take critical steps to ensure abuse is not just acknowledged but actively addressed.
The removal of the three-year time bar and the shift in the burden of proof represent groundbreaking changes. These amendments empower victims to pursue justice without the added trauma of proving their case under an unfair system. They signal a new chapter, where victims can seek the apologies and reparations they rightfully deserve while holding institutions accountable.
We all have a role to play in amplifying these efforts, supporting survivors, and fostering a culture where abuse is no longer hidden but confronted head-on. Together, we can make strides toward a society where justice and safety prevail.
Huge congratulations, Roderick, on all your efforts, success and for working cross-party on this important issue!
As Leader of the Opposition in Lambeth, we were made aware of this shocking situation not too long ago, particularly in light of the ongoing horrors and failures of Shirley Oaks. It is inconceivable that justice was given such a short timeframe, and that victims were failed in such an abhorrent manner.
Thank you for playing a key role to hold those responsible to account. We must put an end to all abuse and ensure that everyone is treated with the kindness and respect they deserve.
Hugely important work. Thank you for shining a light on dark and difficult corners, and for bringing this to our attention.
Roderick, this is what campaigning is all about. Nothing can ever take away the trauma your school friends live with as a result of the horrific abuse they suffered. Yet this outcome means their voices and those of other victims can finally be heard – and justice sought.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. It’s heartbreaking to think of the physical and mental pain suffered by the victims for the rest of their lives. You are right to be proud of the cross party work you have done to support and encourage those very brave people to speak out in private and in public in a quest to bring justice within reach. The three-year time bar should not have existed, and you should never have had to work so hard to get it lifted. It is distressing, but I fear you are right when you say that the agenda is not pretty of fashionable and that lot of people stay clear of it. As in so many spheres the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing and turn away, shut their eyes, ears and minds to the suffering of others. Your plea for Liberal Democrats to amplify the voices of those who have suffered abuse is well made
We often fail to see that there are victims around us and when we do, most of us feel powerless to help. What you are doing is amazing. Keep fighting the good fight Roderick.
This is positive steps to fighting the real elephant in the room. Something that affects many but sadly we would believe it affects a minority,
Such awful experiences for those who were victim at the hands and inhumane actions of others.
Big up Roderick and those supporting for taking on the true belly of the beast. Abuse is not acceptable. Thank you! You have my full support, Katie Downie