IICSA: Children in Custodial Institutions – closing statements delivered today

Closing statements were today delivered in the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse’s investigation into Children in Custodial Institutions.  Jonathan Dixey made the closing statement on behalf of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.

The statement included the following:

“The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to supporting victims of serious sexual offences, whoever they are, and in whatever circumstances the offences are committed.

A child in a custodial institution should never feel that the police will turn a blind eye to allegations of abuse, nor should any perpetrator of abuse believe that because their victim is in a custodial institution, the police will not investigate or, where appropriate, seek the prosecution of those believed to be guilty.”

The Children in Custodial Institutions investigations is examining the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation while detained in custodial institutions, including Secure Children’s Homes, Secure Training Centres, Young Offender Institutions.

More information on IICSA can be found here.

Jonathan Dixey, with Jason Beer QC, are instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Directorate of Legal Services.