Nick Clegg has told The Times that Police should investigate allegations of sexual abuse “without fear or favour.” His comments come  in the wake of this week’s report showing deficiencies in the way police and social services handled allegations of sexual abuse in Rochdale.

Nick said:

It is completely unacceptable if perceived cultural sensitivities or political correctness ever stops crimes being investigated fully or allows abuse to continue. No one would pretend that sexual exploitation is exclusive to any community or race, but major cases like this raise tough questions about the profile and attitude of the abusers towards their victims. Nothing is gained by shying away from that.

Too many agencies across the country have failed to get a grip on sexual exploitation and allowed abusers to escape justice. There are always lessons to be learnt from such horrific cases and everything must be done to make sure improvements are made.

Police forces are actively trying to tackle this issue, with an increasing number of cases being brought before the courts.

On a national level, the Government has ensured that child sexual exploitation is in the organised crime strategy and it will be included in the remit of the future national crime agency.

Sex exploitation cuts across class, cultures and communities. We can’t duck the tough questions this case raises.

Police and social services should investigate without fear or favour, and communities need to front up to abuse in their midst.

He added that the Children’s Commissioner would be publishing a report on the issues surrounding child sex abuse by the end of this year.

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* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social