Focus should be on preventing child abuse

Action for Children spoke out ahead of a Commons debate today on child sexual expoitation.

The charity's head of safeguarding Shaun Kelly said:

"We agree strongly with those MPs and others who are pointing out that the current leadership crisis at the BBC should not detract from the child abuse allegations which led to it.

"The focus should remain squarely on better preventing child abuse cases in the future, protecting children who are suffering from abuse right now, and supporting and listening to child abuse survivors.

"We know from our work with theUK's most vulnerable children the serious long-term effects that abuse can have and why it is so important to intervene in these cases as early as possible.

"A clear plan of action must be implemented to ensure that people feel comfortable reporting suspected cases of child abuse and feel confident that their concerns will be taken seriously. It is equally important that survivors of child abuse are given the support they need without delay."

Yesterday culture secretary Maria Miller answered an urgent question in the Commons on the resignation of the BBC's director general George Entwistle over a Newsnight report that a senior Tory politician had abused children.

"None of the developments in recent days should overshadow the investigations into the alleged horrendous abuse of children in institutions around our country," she said.

"It is vital that the BBC responds correctly and decisively to the Pollard inquiry on the decision to drop the “Newsnight” item on Savile, and to the Smith inquiry looking at Savile’s abuses and the culture and practices of the BBC."

Shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman said:

"First and foremost, we need to have in mind the people who suffered the horror of sexual abuse as children? It takes great courage to come forward, and that is something that we must encourage and support them to do."