Rotherham Child Abuse Scandal: Shaun Wright Will Not Step Down as Commissioner Until 2016

Wright blames the cost of holding a by-election for the post is not in the public interest

Shaun Wright has agreed to step down as Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in South Yorkshire, but not until 2016.

The under-fire commissioner continues to face pressure to resign after failing to act against the widespread organised sexual abuse of children while in charge of children's services at Rotherham Borough Council from 2005 to 2010.

Despite resigning from the Labour Party last week he still refuses to leave his job as South Yorkshire's PCC, claiming the cost of holding a by-election to replace him would not be in the public interest.

In a statement he admitted his blame for his part in "the collective failures which took place – having resigned from the council in 2010.

16 years of child abuse

But he insisted that he has "taken that experience to deliver a major transformation in the way South Yorkshire police deals with horrific crimes such as child sexual exploitation".

Last week it has emerged that 24 child protection investigations failed to halt the abuse of 1,400 children by gangs in Rotherham, over a period of 16 years.

This included a serious case review in 2010, which revealed one of the victims of grooming was murdered.

Meanwhile, the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, which scrutinizes the commissioner's activities is seeking legal advice to force him out of office.

An outraged member of public told ITV News: "No-one can hold him to account. So he can go into any meeting do anything and just sit there and virtually put two fingers to the public that's paying for him, and say 'tough guys I'm off to the bank with my £85,000 a year' which is absolutely disgusting."

Wright's Full Resignation Statement

I formally tender my resignation from the Labour party. However, I remain committed to, and intend to remain in, my role as an Independent police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire.

I entered into public service over twenty years ago to make a positive difference. Protecting vulnerable people has been my number one priority as police and crime commissioner for South Yorkshire. I have had to make the difficult decision to stand down from the Labour party and it's with deep regret that I've come to that decision.

I've dedicated my career and life to serving the public of South Yorkshire. As a father, and a citizen of South Yorkshire, my thoughts are with the victims and their families and I reiterate my apology to them and take full responsibility for my part in the collective failures which took place at Rotherham council during the time I was in office and indeed to that end I resigned in 2010.

I stand by my earlier comments that I've taken that experience to deliver a major transformation in the way South Yorkshire police deals with horrific crimes such as child sexual exploitation, and much progress has been made since I was elected as commissioner in terms of supporting victims, taking preventive action, increasing awareness of the issue and bringing criminals to justice. I was elected to deliver the people's policing and crime priorities in South Yorkshire and I intend to see that duty through by leading the force on that urgent, and fundamental, journey of improvement for the sake of past, present and potential victims, who are the most important people in all of this.