Independent report

The Wass Inquiry Report into allegations surrounding child safeguarding issues on St Helena and Ascension Island (redacted version)

Report of the Wass Inquiry, an expert and independent inquiry established to consider child safeguarding allegations on St Helena and Ascension Island.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 10 December 2015

Documents

The Wass Inquiry Report into allegations surrounding child safeguarding issues on St Helena and Ascension Island (redacted version)

Ref: ISBN 9781474125604, HC 662

PDF, 3.79 MB, 314 pages

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The Wass Inquiry Report into allegations surrounding child safeguarding issues on St Helena and Ascension Island (redacted version) PRINT FILE

Ref: ISBN 9781474125598, HC 662

PDF, 16 MB, 313 pages

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Details

Serious allegations concerning child safeguarding issues were raised by former employees of the public authorities of the British Overseas Territory of St Helena. These allegations involved claims relating to child abuse in the Territory, police corruption and incompetence, and a conspiracy by the St Helena Government (SHG), the FCO and DFID to cover these up. In November 2014 the Foreign Secretary announced that Sasha Wass QC would lead an independent Inquiry to establish if there was any truth to these allegations and make recommendations as appropriate. The Inquiry has produced a report detailing the outcomes of their investigation.

In relation to the allegations, the Inquiry found no evidence of corruption or “cover up” in the St Helena Police Service, the St Helena and Ascension Island Governments, the FCO or DFID. A redacted version of the report has been published on 10 December 2015 by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP.

Read Minister Duddridge’s Written Ministerial Statement.

Published 10 December 2015