THE South East Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board is encouraging anyone in South-East Wales, who has experienced sexual abuse, however long ago, to contact the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.

They are also encouraging any professionals who used to work with children and who felt obstructed or silenced in their handling of child abuse cases to contact the inquiry.

The inquiry covers both England and Wales and wants to hear from anyone who was sexually abused as a child in an institutional setting such as a care home, a school or a religious, voluntary or state organisation.

They also want to hear from anyone who reported their sexual abuse as a child to a person in authority like a police officer or teacher where the report was either ignored or not properly acted on.

Duncan Forbes, who chairs the South East Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board, said: “Those who have experienced abuse may be concerned about confidentiality. They aren’t expected to give information in public and nothing will be published about them which could identify them without their permission. You can tell the Inquiry as little or as much as you want about your experiences.”

Anyone wanting to provide information can contact the Inquiry using their helpline number: 0800 917 1000, by e-mailing share@csa-inquiry.independent.gov.uk or by writing to them at Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, PO Box 72289, London, SW1P 9LF.