Council sets aside £2m for Janner probe
COUNTY Hall has set aside £2 million to support a national inquiry looking into of allegations of child sex abuse made against former Leicester MP Lord Janner.
Leicestershire County Council published a new report last week outlining how the authority is preparing for the Goddard Inquiry.
Bosses said it is difficult to predict the cost at this stage, but it has put aside £2 million to support the hearing.
The council is one of a number of organisations required by law to contribute to the inquiry.
Council leader Nick Rushton said: “The abuse of children is totally unacceptable and it is vital that the voices of people who were abused are heard.
“We remain fully committed to co-operating with the inquiry to ensure that events are fully investigated and any lessons learned.
“Clearly, preparing for an unprecedented event on this scale is significant and challenging and we’re taking our role extremely seriously. By adopting a thorough approach, we’re ensuring we provide the most comprehensive and accurate information possible, supporting the inquiry’s investigation.”
Other measures outlined in the report include appointing a legal support team to represent the council, gathering all information which is relevant to the inquiry and successfully applying to be a ‘core participant’ during the hearing to allow the authority to see key evi- dence, make statements and ask questions.
The £2 million total includes legal resource and support for victims and survivors.
The cabinet is set to discuss the report on June 17.
Lord Janner is alleged to have sexually abused children, including some from Hinckley, over a period spanning more than 30 years and dating back to the 1950s.
A six-month public hearing is due to get underway in September and will call people from organisations, including council representatives, to give evidence in the winter.
After this, the inquiry is expected to publish ‘findings of fact’.
The wider inquiry opened in July 2015 and is expected to last until at least 2020.