"Five survivors invited on to the child sexual exploitation inquiry panel have written to Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood to say they will continue working with the investigation only if the safeguarding minister Jess Phillips remains in post. The women have contacted the prime minister and the home secretary outlining a range of conditions for their continued participation. They say Phillips has devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard."
"One of the group, Samantha Walker-Roberts, who was abused in Oldham from the age of 12, has chosen to waive her right to anonymity. The other five have used pseudonyms and call themselves Scarlett, Caitlin, Claire and Katie. The women say they want the inquiry to cover all types of sexual exploitation, including grooming gangs, and that anyone who believes their evidence should be included should have the chance to participate."
"They say they believe Phillips has remained impartial and they want her to remain in position for the duration of the process for consistency. They say: She has offered some of us support prior to this process, helped survivors access services and help they would not have had without her. In consultation, we have asked for the scope to be larger than just grooming gangs, that was our right to input our opinions, which is the purpose of the panel."
Five survivors invited to the child sexual exploitation inquiry panel wrote to Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood that they will only continue participating if safeguarding minister Jess Phillips remains in post. The women contacted the prime minister and the home secretary and outlined conditions for continued participation. One survivor, Samantha Walker-Roberts, waived her right to anonymity; others use pseudonyms: Scarlett, Caitlin, Claire and Katie. The group wants the inquiry to cover all types of sexual exploitation, including grooming gangs, and to allow anyone whose evidence should be included to participate. The survivors stated that Phillips has provided support, helped access services, and remained impartial.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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