PCC who refuses to resign in wake of Jay report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham says he had no appointments

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The embattled South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner (PCC) Shaun Wright cancelled a planned surgery on Friday, saying no members of the public had booked an appointment.

Wright has not made any public appearances since he gave interviews the day after the publication of a damning report on child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, nine days ago.

He has insisted he will not resign despite widespread calls for him to step down.

In a statement, his office said: "The office of the South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner can confirm that the planned surgery for Friday 5 September in Barnsley will no longer take place.

"The commissioner's surgeries are managed by appointment and there have been no requests for appointments at this Friday's surgery.

"We usually require two full days in order to research queries put to us in advance of the surgeries to ensure that we provide members of the public with meaningful information when the commissioner meets with them, in order to fully address their inquiry.

"Therefore, in line with our usual protocol, we have cancelled Friday's surgeries as no appointments have been requested."

Since Professor Alexis Jay's report was published, revealing how at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 to 2013, there have been top-level calls for Wright to step down.

Before he was elected as PCC, Wright was a councillor in Rotherham for more than a decade and the cabinet member with responsibility for children's services from 2005 to 2010.

The report was scathing about the lack of action of senior councillors and council officers in the town as hundreds of girls, and some boys, were groomed, trafficked and raped.

The prime minister David Cameron, home secretary Theresa May and Labour leader Ed Miliband have all called for Wright to resign, as has his deputy, Tracey Cheetham, who stepped down herself in protest at his failure to go.

When Labour threatened to drop him last week, Wright resigned from the party. He has not been working at his office in Barnsley, and was seen walking out of the South Yorkshire police HQ in Sheffield on Monday.

Wright is due to appear before the Commons home affairs select committee next week.