Does Rotherham need a Rotherham Independent Panel? (modelled on the Hillsborough Independent Panel which broke the years long deadlock) The Rotherham disaster was a personal tragedy for hundreds (if not thousands) of children and their family members and a disaster of major national and international significance. As with the Hillsborough Independent Panel, should we call on the government to establish a Rotherham Independent Panel to oversee a disclosure process about the historical failings in Rotherham? The remit of the independent panel could be to: • oversee full public disclosure of relevant local information within the limited constraints set out in the accompanying protocol; • consult with the Rotherham victims and survivors of CSE and their families to ensure that the views of those most affected by the tragedy are taken into account; • manage the process of public disclosure, ensuring that it takes place initially to the Rotherham victims and survivors of CSE and other involved parties, in an agreed manner and within a reasonable timescale, before information is made more widely available; • in line with established practice, work with the Keeper of Public Records in preparing options for establishing an archive of Rotherham documentation, including a catalogue of all local public agency information and a commentary on any information withheld for the benefit of the victims and survivors of CSE or on legal or other grounds; • produce a report explaining the work of the panel. The panel's report will also illustrate how the information disclosed adds to public understanding of the tragedy and its aftermath. ………………………………………………………. Check out: http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/report/appendices/part-4/appendix-1/ ………………………………………………………. Note: I still cannot comprehend the debate that took place in the Rotherham Council chamber on Wednesday 18 October 2018 about asking for a public enquiry – but let’s not get distracted by that.