Jeremy Corbyn has called for a standing commission on child abuse.
He said the official inquiry into the "trauma" of victims could become permanent and vowed there should be no cover-ups for prominent people.
The Labour leadership contender was asked about the investigation into ex-prime minister Sir Edward Heath and other police probes during a debate in West Belfast.
"There has to be a standing commission to investigate this, the trauma that victims of childhood sexual abuse go through and carry it with them for the rest of their lives.
"If there were cover-ups because the alleged perpetrator was a very prominent person at that time the law should apply to everyone, whoever they are, absolutely equally.
"We should be very careful that just calling someone an abuser is not the same thing as proven evidence, the proven evidence has to be before any final decision is made."
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