Police Commissioner 'must resign' over Rotherham abuse scandal

South Yorkshire’s police commission refused to resign despite calls from his own party for him to quit over child abuse in Rotherham.

17:24 27 August 2014

Political rivals and colleagues have called for the resignation of Police Commissioner Shaun Wright over the Rotherham sexual abuse scandal. However, the police commissioner refused to stand down and said that he was the most appropriate person to hold the post of PCC.

An inquiry found that at least 1,400 children in the town were sexually exploited by predominantly Asian criminal gangs between 1997 and 2013. Wright was the Labour councilor in charge of children’s services at Rotherham Council from 2005 to 2010.

A Labour spokesman told the BBC: "In the light of this report, it's appropriate... Shaun Wright should step down."

Sarah Champion, the Labour MP for Rotherham, tweeted: "Now fully read report, Sean [sic] Wright needs to step down as PCC. He's championed child abuse prosecutions since, but this happened on his watch."

Meanwhile, shadow welfare minister Chris Bryant said: "I think that everybody who is involved in council offices as well as councillors need to consider their position but most importantly Shaun [Wright] I think should sit down and have a very long think to himself again this afternoon."