Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the announcement that the IPCC is investigating fourteen referrals into Metropolitan Police investigations into child sex abuse, said:

“Child abuse is a horrific crime and the allegations the Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating are of the utmost seriousness.

“Given the gravity of the crimes being investigated, it is worrying that this is not a fully independent investigation. Instead the Met will lead this work with oversight from the IPCC.

“Surely this should be done by an independent investigator or, at the very least an alternate force?

“For too long the voices of abused children have been ignored and the crimes against them have gone uninvestigated. In too many cases, people in a position to protect children failed to act and let them down. In the worst cases, there were attempts to undermine or discredit children reporting abuse.

“It is vital this investigation is able to get to the truth of these appalling allegations, root out anyone involved in wrongdoing and pursue criminal proceedings wherever needed.”