Secrets and Silence: Uncovering the Legacy of the Cleveland Child Sexual Abuse Case

by Beatrix Campbell

The child sexual abuse scandal in the English county of Cleveland in the 1980s was a defining moment but not the scandal we were led to believe it was. Acclaimed journalist Beatrix Campbell has uncovered government documents that show how medical evidence of childhood rape identified by pioneering paediatricians was deemed credible but ‘dangerous’ – it was more important to save money than save children. This book reveals how this secret has framed policy making and public opinion and the consequences it has had for children, professionals, justice and the state. The deaths of ‘national treasures’ Sir Jimmy Savile and Sir Cyril Smith led to a torrent of evidence of childhood suffering, the discovery of widespread sexual exploitation and institutional abuse across the world – all in plain sight. The Cleveland children have remained in the shadows. Now, for the first time, a Cleveland child delves into her records and shares her story.

306 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Mrs H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Blew my mind.

This book challenged my misconceptions about cleveland and put into context why we got things so wrong for children and continue to do so. Amazingly well researched and put together. Thank you.

[Elizabeth Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Secrets and Silence, Beatrix Campbell uncovers vital information about what went on around the Cleveland Child Sexual Abuse case, which she has followed with a passionate, yet rigorous concern, since it broke in the 1980s. Campbell forensically examines all the evidence, brilliantly articulating her thoughts and ideas on the consequences of actions both taken and not taken by the authorities involved. It is a deeply thought provoking work, with huge relevance to now... a time of cover-ups, scandals and failures of governance at so many levels.