Meetings

NDM8821 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd

1. Condemns the institutional failings that led to the neglect and underreporting of instances of child abuse over several decades, as found in Professor Alexis Jay’s independent inquiry of 2022.

2. Commends the bravery of the victims and survivors for sharing their testimonies, and believes their voices should always take precedence in the course of reviewing and strengthening relevant safeguards.

3. Recognises recent public concern regarding sexual violence and abuse by organised networks.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) implement all recommendations of the Jay Report without delay;

b) engage with all organisations on the frontline serving victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse;

c) work with Welsh police forces to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate independent oversight, and ensure co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation; and

d) consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The item started at 17.04

Voting on the motion and amendment under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8821 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd

1. Condemns the institutional failings that led to the neglect and underreporting of instances of child abuse over several decades, as found in Professor Alexis Jay’s independent inquiry of 2022.

2. Commends the bravery of the victims and survivors for sharing their testimonies, and believes their voices should always take precedence in the course of reviewing and strengthening relevant safeguards.

3. Recognises recent public concern regarding sexual violence and abuse by organised networks.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) implement all recommendations of the Jay Report without delay;

b) engage with all organisations on the frontline serving victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse;

c) work with Welsh police forces to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate independent oversight, and ensure co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation; and

d) consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Condemns the institutional failings that led to the neglect and underreporting of instances of child abuse over several decades, as found in Professor Alexis Jay’s independent inquiry of 2022.

2. Commends the bravery of the victims and survivors for sharing their testimonies, and believes their voices should always take precedence in the course of reviewing and strengthening relevant safeguards.

3. Recognises recent public concern regarding sexual violence and abuse by organised networks.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) implement all recommendations of the Jay Report without delay;

b) engage with all organisations on the frontline serving victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse;

c) work with Welsh police forces to conduct an immediate all-Wales audit, with appropriate independent oversight, and ensure co-operation with the UK-wide audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation; and

d) consider commissioning a full independent inquiry in light of the evidence gathered by the audit.

The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

The motion as amended was agreed.