TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLICATION OF THE JAY REPORT

Published 26 August 2024 at 10:46am

Today (26 August) marks the tenth anniversary since the publication of Alexis Jay’s report - the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham covering the period of 1997-2013.

The report revealed that at least 1,400 children – mainly girls – in Rotherham had been abused and exploited and that those in authority had failed to act. 

Commenting on the tenth anniversary of the report, Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: 

“We will not forget the abuse that happened here. There will be no complacency.

“Over the last decade, the leadership of both South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Council has been transformed. There has been root and branch reform of the personnel, style and approach of those agencies tasked with protecting children in Rotherham.

“But there are vital lessons we must never forget.

“Simply, there can never be any room for complacency; no excuse for organisational silos, the protection of reputations or community sensitivities getting in the way of any and every effort to protect children.

“It is incumbent on all of us in positions of power across South Yorkshire to continue to acknowledge the failures detailed by the Jay Report, and to continue our shared efforts not just to restore the institutions tasked with protecting children, but to restore our community’s trust in their intentions and their actions.

“Ten years on from Alexis Jay’s Report, the journey along the road to restoring that trust will carry on. Those crimes should never have been allowed to happen here in South Yorkshire, but we must not, will not, and cannot forget they did."

If you are a South Yorkshire resident and have been a victim or rape or sexual assault you can receive support services free of charge from a number of services. Please visit the website of the South Yorkshire Independent Sexual Violence Service for more information: www.syisva.org.uk.  

If you wish to report a crime in progress, suspects at the scene or a person in immediate danger please dial 999.

For all other crime reporting either ring 101 or report online via the South Yorkshire Police website at www.southyorkshire.police.uk.  

Alternatively crimes can be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.