BREAKING: Police watchdog investigates whether ex-Commissioner lied on oath

The police watchdog has launched an investigation into whether former Police and Crime Commission Shaun Wright lied on oath about what he knew about child sexual exploitation in Rotherham.
Shaun WrightShaun Wright
Shaun Wright

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at whether Mr Wright committed perjury when giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2014.

It follows a referral from South Yorkshire Police after the Police and Crime Panel in South Yorkshire, which holds the county's Police and Crime Commissioner to account, received two complaints about Mr Wright.

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Mr Wright gave evidence, under oath, regarding his knowledge of allegations of widespread child sexual abuse in Rotherham.

It is alleged that he denied having knowledge of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham during his time as cabinet member for children’s services at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council between 2005 and 2010.

The IPCC investigation is specifically focused on whether the evidence given, on oath, by Mr Wright, was in any way misleading.

IPCC Deputy Chairman Sarah Green said: “The IPCC can only investigate a Police and Crime Commissioner if the allegations made are serious enough to be potentially deemed criminal. "We are investigating, because at the time the evidence was given, Mr Wright was still South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

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"Our investigation will involve analysing the evidence given at the Home Affairs Select Committee and we will take statements and conduct interviews with any relevant witnesses that we identify as the investigation progresses.”