Is this Greater Manchester borough finally getting what it deserves?

Oldham: There’s been a lot of chatter about grooming gangs in Oldham, and it’s been a messy situation for quite some time.

Today, the government announced it will help Oldham council kick off its own local inquiry into child sexual exploitation. This comes after the council’s request for a government-led inquiry was turned down, stirring up more debate.

For years, folks in Oldham have been arguing about who should lead a review into the town’s troubling history with grooming gangs. Things got even more heated after an inquiry by Andy Burnham wrapped up in 2022.

This independent review found some serious issues in Oldham but didn’t find any evidence of a cover-up. That conclusion led to more calls for the government to step in and lead an inquiry.

Even though the government said no to the council’s request last year, they’ve now decided to help Oldham and a few other areas set up their own inquiries. This is part of a £10 million funding package.

Right now, it’s unclear how much cash Oldham will get for its inquiry, but sources say it could cost millions. And there are still folks who want a national inquiry instead.

Maggie Oliver, a former GMP detective and whistleblower, is one of those people. She’s been vocal about needing a public inquiry and even warned the home secretary that she might take legal action if the last inquiry’s recommendations aren’t fully implemented.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs that a timeline for these recommendations would be shared by Easter. But Oliver feels the previous inquiry didn’t dig deep enough into grooming gangs.

She’s talked to survivors in Oldham who think the review led by Burnham wasn’t thorough enough either. She’s not convinced that the truth came out.

On the flip side, Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor who helped secure major convictions in Rochdale, believes local inquiries are the way to go. He points to Telford’s inquiry as a great example.

Afzal thinks Telford asked the right questions, focusing on how to keep kids safe rather than just looking back at what went wrong. He’s a bit wary of another national inquiry.

He welcomed today’s announcement, saying Telford sets the standard for these kinds of inquiries. He believes local inquiries can really understand the community and respond quickly.

Afzal also praised Tom Crowther, who will lead the government’s plans for local reviews. He noted that Crowther was thorough and didn’t just take things at face value.

Cooper mentioned that Crowther will help create a framework for victim-centered, locally-led inquiries, starting with Oldham and a few other areas. She believes local inquiries can lead to real changes, like adding CCTV in taxis.

She also announced an extra £5 million for this work, which could also help local authorities find other ways to support victims.

Oldham council leader Arooj Shah expressed her support for the government’s announcement, emphasizing the need for survivor-led inquiries into past abuse. She wants survivors to have a voice in the process.

Shah is proud that Oldham can help shape future inquiries across the country, seeing it as a small step toward healing from a dark chapter in their history.

She also mentioned that the government is asking Baroness Casey to look into the specific drivers of this type of abuse. Shah believes it’s important to understand why this pattern of abuse is more common among certain groups.

She stressed that it’s not about race or religion but about holding those responsible accountable. The only place for these offenders is prison, facing justice for their actions.