'Multiple failings' in responses to claims of child sex abuse made against Lord Janner, report finds

Children who claimed they were being abused by the late Labour peer Lord Janner were "let down by institutional failings", according a report.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) found children in the care of Leicestershire County Council were "not given the attention they deserved" and there were "multiple failings" in responses to child sex abuse claims against the politician.

Police officers appeared "reluctant" to investigate allegations, and "shut down investigations" without pursuing all outstanding inquiries, according to Professor Alexis Jay.

The report said Leicestershire Police's Operation Magnolia, which examined allegations against Lord Janner in 1999, was "insufficient" and seemingly involved a "deliberate decision" to withhold key witness statements from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

It said children in care were ignored because they were "distrusted", the failure to pass on the statements was "serious and inexcusable" and crucial information was "brushed under the carpet".

However the report said there is "no evidence" police were "unduly influenced or placed under improper pressure not to pursue the Lord Janner allegations".

The investigation heard from 33 alleged victims, with allegations against Lord Janner spanning three decades.

It said Leicestershire Country Council had a "sorry record of failures" in relation to the sexual abuse of children in its care in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and a number of council staff had concerns about Lord Janner's association with a child in its care.

The council told the inquiry it "accepts that it failed to take adequate steps in response to those concerns".

The inquiry is not focusing on whether Lord Janner is innocent or guilty, but on the institutional responses to the allegations made against him and whether he was treated differently because of his public profile.

Lord Janner died in 2015, after being found unfit to stand trial over a string of sexual offences against boys dating back 50 years.

The former Leicester MP, who was suspended from the Labour Party, faced 22 charges of child sex abuse against nine different boys, alleged to have taken place between the 1960s and 1980s.

He consistently denied the allegations against him.

Lord Janner's son, Daniel Janner QC, previously said: "My late father's innocence is unchallenged in this report. It offers no proof whatsoever of guilt.

"He was himself the victim of institutional failings because he was denied the ability (in court) prior to his dementia to defend himself and challenge the false allegations.

"The fact that all the civil claims made against his estate were withdrawn or discontinued speaks for itself."

The report does not make any specific recommendations but does say the inquiry raises issues around "deference to powerful individuals" and the "need for institutions to have clear policies and procedures setting out how to respond to allegations of child sexual abuse".

A CPS spokesman said: "The CPS has acknowledged past failings in the way allegations made against Lord Janner were handled.

"It remains a matter of sincere regret that opportunities were missed to put these allegations before a jury.

"We have co-operated fully with the inquiry and will carefully consider its conclusions."

Simon Cole, the Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, said: "On behalf of Leicestershire Police, firstly, I would like to reiterate the wholehearted apology I gave in February 2020 to any complainant whose allegations during earlier police investigations into Lord Janner were not responded to as they should have been.

"It is fair and correct to say that the allegations could and should have been investigated more thoroughly, and Lord Janner could and should have faced prosecution earlier than 2015."

He said Operation Enamel, which eventually resulted in Lord Janner being charged, "demonstrated then, more than six years ago, a clear commitment and determination to pursue allegations of current or historic abuse against children".

He added: "That unstinting commitment continues today. Reports of abuse are taken extremely seriously by Leicestershire Police.

"I would like to acknowledge again the bravery and candour of the complainants who have contributed to this long and challenging inquiry which must have caused significant anxiety and suffering.

"With them in mind, Leicestershire Police will study the report scrupulously and examine it for any actions or improvements."

Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "The council at the time simply did not do enough to keep the children in its care safe, and for that I am sorry.

"The publication underlines that there were failures in the past. We fully accept the findings in the report and have supported the inquiry from the outset."

He said the council has "transformed" its approach to safeguarding and remains committed to "improving the support we give to the children in our care".