Rotherham: Thacker quits as director of children’s services on the council

Ms Thacker becomes the fourth high-profile figure to quit in the wake of the scathing report into child abuse in the town.

In a statement on their website, the council said: “Joyce Thacker, strategic director for children and young people’s services, is to leave Rotherham Council by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.”

“The council will be making no further statement at this stage.”

Ms Thacker had been under pressure to go since Prof Alexis Jay’s report this month which exposed a series of failings by the council and South Yorkshire police to protect more than 1,400 children from sexual abuse in the town.

Council leader Roger Stone and chief executive Martin Kimber quit soon after the report was published and last week, Shaun Wright bowed to public pressure and resigned as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

Ms Thacker had said she would not quit and had been hailed as key figure in rebuilding the trust of the people in the council.

But in a dramatic change of direction, she has now decided to step down.