Government Announces New Inquiry into Grooming Gangs in Oldham
The government has pledged £5 million for a new inquiry into grooming gangs in Oldham, following local council requests for action.
Oldham, UK, Grooming Gangs, Child Exploitation, Yvette Cooper
Oldham: The government is stepping in to help with a new inquiry into grooming gangs. They’re putting £5 million towards this effort, which is a big deal for the local council.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned that they’ll also do a quick audit to check the backgrounds of victims and perpetrators. This comes after Oldham council asked for a government-led inquiry into child sexual exploitation, which was turned down. That decision didn’t sit well with many, including Elon Musk, who recently chimed in on the issue.
Cooper told MPs that the government is ready to back local inquiries more strongly. She’s bringing in Tom Crowther KC, who led the Telford inquiry, to help set up these new, locally focused investigations.
As a starting point, he’ll work with Oldham and a few other areas to find better ways to support victims, including local panels. Cooper emphasized that keeping children safe is the top priority. She pointed out that for too long, this kind of abuse was overlooked, and many victims were ignored.
She also mentioned that past inquiries often ended up gathering dust instead of leading to real change. Now, the government is committed to acting on recommendations and ensuring that victims are protected while holding offenders accountable.
This announcement follows some serious pressure from former Greater Manchester Police detective Maggie Oliver, who threatened legal action against Cooper unless her concerns were addressed. In a recent statement, Cooper assured MPs that all recommendations from a national inquiry completed in 2022 would be implemented by Easter.
Meanwhile, Labour had previously argued against the need for another national inquiry, suggesting that the focus should be on implementing past recommendations. However, the local council has been pushing hard for a government-led inquiry, especially after a review highlighted serious issues in Oldham.
Despite the pushback, a deal was made last year when Labour lost its majority in the town hall. Council leader Arooj Shah agreed to support calls for a new inquiry to keep Labour in power.
In the past, the Home Office had rejected similar requests from local councillors. But now, they’re saying that any inquiry should be organized locally. The council has promised to ensure that victims’ voices are heard, even without direct government intervention.
On New Year’s Day, Musk called the government’s decision “shameful,” and other political leaders have also called for a national inquiry. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said he’s open to a new review, while some government ministers disagree.
Oliver, who left the police in 2012, has warned Cooper that she’ll take her to court if urgent steps aren’t taken to address public concerns about child exploitation. She’s demanding that Cooper confirm the implementation of all recommendations from a major inquiry and provide a timeline for these actions.
If Cooper doesn’t agree to these requests, Oliver plans to seek a judicial review to challenge the government’s inaction on these critical issues.