Scottish children’s charity condemns Boris Johnson’s comments on historic child abuse investigations as ‘outrageous and irresponsible’

A leading Scottish children’s charity has labelled Boris Johnson’s comments on historic child abuse as ‘outrageous and irresponsible’.

In a radio interview on LBC, Mr Johnson claimed that millions of pounds of police funding was being “spaffed up the wall” investigating allegations of historic abuse.

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children 1st, said his choice of language was an “appalling insult” for survivors of such traumas.

In a statement, Ms Glasgow said: “It is shocking to hear such outrageous and irresponsible comments about historic child abuse from a senior politician.

“Child abusers rely on their power, status and a culture of looking the other way to keep children silent about the horrific things that are happening to them.

“Jimmy Saville and other high profile abuse cases have shown how society’s willingness to turn a blind eye to abuse devastated the lives of child after child.”

She added: “Historic child abuse investigations can stop abuse happening to children, the smallest, most vulnerable members of the public, today.

“They show both child and adult survivors that if you speak out you will be heard, abusers will be stopped and you can begin to recover and move on with your life.

“For the survivors of child sexual abuse we work with, supporting them to recover from their childhood experiences of trauma, language like “spaffing money up the wall” is an appalling insult given their often horrific experiences.”

There was condemnation too from the NSPCC, who said Mr Johnson’s “crass” language was an “affront to victims”.

A spokesman said: “Bringing child abuse perpetrators to justice is not a ‘malarkey’ and such crass language is an affront to victims who have suffered in silence for decades.

“Investigation of historic allegations is an important part of creating a culture where we can talk more openly about abuse.

“These investigations will also help us all to learn lessons so that as a society we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

Labour MP John Mann said: “Boris Johnson says investigating child abuse was a waste of money. Try telling that to my constituent whose rapist got 19 years after we pressured for the case to be reopened.”

Speaking on LBC Radio, Mr Johnson was asked whether police cuts had contributed to the problems on London’s streets.

He said: “Keeping numbers high on the streets is certainly important. But the question is where you spend the money and where you deploy the officers.

“One comment I would make is that I think an awful lot of the money, an awful lot of police time, now goes into these historic offences and all this malarkey – £60 million I saw was being spaffed up the wall on some investigation into historic child abuse and all this kind of thing.

“What on earth is that going to do to protect the public now? What the people want is to see officers out on the streets doing what they signed up to do.”

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “These disgusting comments are an insult to every survivor of child sex abuse.

“If Boris Johnson has even a little bit of decency he will now apologise to the victims and families of those who have suffered.”