The latest update from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is an important development for survivors of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. Operation Netton, the IOPC investigation into South Yorkshire Police’s (SYP) past handling of non-recent reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation, has now more than doubled in size, with 24 investigations ongoing. The IOPC has confirmed that the complaints concern allegations that SYP failed to take action to protect children from abuse and failed to investigate sufficiently, with evidence in some cases dating back to the 1980s.

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At Switalskis, we are supporting survivors through this complaints process. We understand that making a complaint of this nature can feel daunting. Many survivors have already had to tell their accounts repeatedly, often over many years, and the prospect of engaging with another process can bring understandable anxiety. Our role as child abuse solicitors is to ensure that survivors are heard, that their complaints are properly framed, and that they are supported as the investigation progresses.

Alongside the complaints being investigated by the IOPC, we are also pursuing civil claims against Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) and SYP for their part in failing to protect children in Rotherham from being subjected to grooming and child sexual exploitation. These claims are separate from the complaints process, but they arise from the same core issue: children were being exploited, groomed and abused, and agencies with responsibility for safeguarding failed to act as they should have done.

We are also supporting survivors who allege that they were abused by police officers. Those complaints are separate from Operation Netton and are being investigated by the National Crime Agency under the direction and control of the IOPC. This is an exceptionally serious area of work, and it is vital that survivors are able to engage with that process in a way that is safe, informed and properly supported.

This is not new work for us. Switalskis has worked with survivors of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham across two decades. We now represent people nationwide who have suffered this form of abuse. Over that time, we have seen the lasting impact of institutional failure, the importance of accountability, and the courage it takes for survivors to keep pushing for answers. We know that for many people, the legal and complaints processes can never undo what happened, but they can provide a route to recognition, accountability and, in some cases, redress.

If you are a survivor of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and you are considering making a complaint about the way you were treated by SYP, or if you wish to explore whether you may have a civil claim against SYP or RMBC, we can help. We can talk you through the options, explain the difference between a complaint and a civil claim, and support you in deciding what feels right for you.