A New Zealand judge will lead a wide-ranging inquiry into alleged child sex abuse by powerful figures in British society, the UK government said today, an attempt to restart a troubled probe that has seen two previous chairwomen quit over perceived conflicts of interest.
Home Secretary Theresa May told lawmakers that New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard was appointed new chair of the probe, which aims to find out whether British public agencies, including the BBC, churches and political parties, had neglected or covered up allegations of child sex abuse from the 1970s to protect politicians and others in power.
But the inquiry, announced in July, has been plagued by controversy from the start, with many victims questioning its impartiality and the extent of its powers.
May said she was “more determined than ever” to expose people and institutions who had failed abuse victims. The inquiry would have “the full co-operation of government and access to all relevant information, including secret information where appropriate”, she said.
Child protection and the handling of past child sex abuse has dominated British headlines as it emerged that several well-known figures, including late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile, used their positions to get away with abuse for decades.