Britain has turned to a senior New Zealand judge to head an inquiry into historical child sex abuse after two previous chairs were forced to resign over their establishment links.
Victim groups have backed the appointment of New Zealand High Court judge Lowell Goddard who's tasked with getting the wide-ranging inquiry - which includes allegations of Westminster cover-ups - back on track.
"Justice Goddard will bring a wealth of expertise to the role," Home Secretary Theresa May told the UK parliament on Wednesday.
"Crucially she will be as removed as possible from the organisation and institutions that might become the focus of the inquiry."
Justice Goddard will take charge following a pre-appointment hearing next Wednesday.
British lawyer Fiona Woolf quit as inquiry chair in late 2014 following concerns over her social ties with Leon Brittan who was home secretary in the 1980s.
Woolf's predecessor, Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, quit less than a week after her appointment when questions were raised over her brother's handling of allegations of abuse by politicians when he was attorney-general in the 1980s.
Justice Goddard was selected after the Home Office received 150 nominations from survivors, MPs and members of the public and contacted Commonwealth countries to identify suitable candidates.
The 66-year-old judge previously conducted an inquiry into the policing of child abuse in New Zealand .
Justice Goddard expects the UK inquiry will be "long, challenging and complex".
"The many, many survivors of child sexual abuse, committed over decades, deserve a robust and thorough investigation of the appalling crimes perpetrated upon them," she said in a statement.
"I am committed to leading a robust and independent inquiry that will act on these matters without fear or favour and will hold those responsible to account."
Ms May rejected calls for a royal commission instead opting to give Justice Goddard greater powers by establishing a new statutory inquiry which can compel witnesses to give evidence.
"The process is being reset," the home secretary said on Wednesday, adding the inquiry would be extended to look at abuse allegations prior to 1970.
It will still be confined to England and Wales.
Ms May insisted the inquiry would have access to all relevant government information including secret documents "where appropriate".
The initial inquiry was set up in mid-2014 following a string of scandals involving the abuse of children at hospitals and care homes, including by the late TV star Jimmy Savile, as well as churches and schools.
The immediate trigger for the probe was the resurgence of allegations about a pedophile ring involving senior politicians during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Claims of a cover-up were fuelled after the Home Office admitted it had lost 114 files relating to complaints about abuse between 1979 and 1999.
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