Petition · past parliament

Public inquiry whether MI5 withheld intel, child abuse by government officials

Rejected 11 signatures

What the petition asks

MP Cyril Smith, the horrific abuse of children residing in children's homes, and that a former PM would have been interviewed under caution. We demand MI5 be asked to declassify its archives regarding potential cover ups and complicity. Our great intelligence services owe our children the truth.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/09/mi5-knew-prosecutors-lied-press-about-cyril-smith-inquiry-told-rochdale

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

There is already an inquiry into the failure to protect children, so we're not sure what else you'd like the UK Government or Parliament to do.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse began in 2015.

The inquiry is looking at the extent to which institutions have failed to protect children from sexual abuse. That includes whether the intelligence and/or security services were aware of but didn't try to prevent abuse. The inquiry is independent from the Government.

You can find out more about the inquiry here:

https://www.iicsa.org.uk/

Timeline

9 Oct 2017 Petition opened for signatures
13 Oct 2017 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 11
Status Rejected
Rejected 13 Oct 2017

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.