Three survivors of historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to listen to their stories following the government’s rejection of an inquiry into grooming gangs in the town. Jane and Amelia, who were abused over 15 years ago, and Sarah, whose son was exploited while in care in the town, criticised the government’s decision, saying that ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding on the matter. The government spokesperson said their decision would always be guided by survivors and that Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips would continue to engage with victims. However, it was added that many victims do not want to see another national inquiry but instead want immediate action.
Jane and Amelia called for a full national inquiry to be held to properly cover the experiences of survivors from across the country. Amelia added that even though she did not agree with many of Elon Musk’s beliefs, she was “glad” he had highlighted the issue of grooming gangs. Meanwhile, Sarah, who would have preferred a government-led inquiry but would accept a local one if sufficient funding was provided, expressed her disappointment in how the abuse had affected her son’s life.
The government has declined calls for a new national inquiry and believes that implementing recommendations from a 2022 report conducted by Prof Alexis Jay into child sexual abuse is their priority. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a new national inquiry that focuses specifically on grooming gangs, an area the Jay report did not cover. A 2022 independent review into sex abuse in Oldham found that victims had been failed by the council and the Greater Manchester Police.
Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, responded to the government’s decision by announcing the start of a new local independent inquiry, which will build on the findings of the Greater Manchester review. She added that terms of reference were expected to be agreed upon in the coming months. Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker stated that the force was committed to protecting victims and pursuing offenders, with several ongoing victim-focused, non-recent CSE investigations being led by specialist investigators, leading to over 100 arrests. The government spokesperson insisted that the minister for safeguarding and violence against women, Jess Phillips, would continue to engage with victims
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