WHILE I thank Bradford Council deputy leader Councillor Val Slater for her concern and sorrow – Disappointed by KTC (Keighley News, February 9) – does she really think I would not by now have sought support and justice?

My abuse took place in late 1974/early 1975, when I was in the care of Social Services in the new Bradford Metropolitan District Council area. This has been reported to West Yorkshire Police and, after many hours of recorded interviews, I was later told by a senior officer “it was not in the public interest” that the matter should be taken any further.

Thankfully, I have received over the years a great deal of support from my family and friends and from an independent counselling service, which I still attend.

However, this was of little comfort, not just for myself but for other survivors of sexual abuse. If my case was “not in the public interest”, the question I ask is how many others were deemed to be the same?

This is something that could be uncovered by a public independent inquiry at no cost to Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

COUNCILLOR MICHAEL A WESTERMAN High Spring Road, Keighley