Government removes commissioners from Rotherham council three years after child sex abuse scandal, minister announces

Communities secretary says council has 'turned itself around'

The council offices in Rotherham are housed in Riverside House. Control of all services will be returned to the council, including children’s social care (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

The government will end its intervention into Rotherham council three years after it was severely criticised for “significant failings” which contributed to child sexual exploitation.

In a written ministerial statement the communities secretary, James Brokenshire, said he wanted to return control of all services to the council, including children’s social care.

He also said he would withdraw all three commissioners – all on the condition the council is independently renewed before the end of March next year.

An ongoing investigation by the National Crime Agency has revealed more than 1,500 girls and young women may have been abused in the town, in Yorkshire, between 1997 and 2013.

Reports by Baroness Alexis Jay and Dame Louise Casey found “blatant” failures by police and the Labour-run council – where officials feared accusations of racism at the time.

Mr Brokenshire said: “Vulnerable young people were repeatedly failed in Rotherham, which is why the government stepped in to ensure these errors can never occur again.

“The council has made strong progress and, having carefully considered evidence provided by our commissioners, I am minded to return all powers.

“This is not a decision I take lightly, but I am assured the council has turned itself around and is now providing the services that its residents deserve and expect.”

The commissioners were appointed following the publication of a report by Dame Louise Casey which found significant failings at the council.

The Casey Report followed the report of Professor Alexis Jay, which shocked the nation when it outlined how hundreds of girls had been exploited by grooming gangs of largely Pakistani heritage men between 1997 and 2013 as police and social workers did little to intervene.

The Minister for children and families, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “Keeping children safe is paramount and I am pleased to see the vast improvements Rotherham has made to its children’s services, shown through its recent ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

“We all know that for too long, children and young people living there were failed by the authorities in charge of protecting them.

“In these cases, the Government will not hesitate to intervene and support improvements but it is down to strong leadership and the hard work of staff at Rotherham that they have been able to turn services around.

“The ‘minded to’ decision to return the control of all services to the council marks a positive step for this town and I hope the community can continue to move towards a bright future.”

Mr Brokenshire said the Government is continuing to work with Rotherham Council and the South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner to secure funding for victims identified through the National Crime Agency’s Operation Stovewood.