Whistleblowers Reveal Major Failures in Police Watchdog Grooming Probe
Whistleblowers allege serious shortcomings in the police watchdog’s investigation into grooming cases in Rotherham
Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Grooming, Whistleblowers, Police, Investigation
Rotherham: Channel 4 News recently talked to two whistleblowers about the police watchdog’s investigation into grooming cases in South Yorkshire. They shared some pretty shocking insights.
This investigation was a big deal, being the second largest ever for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). But despite all that effort, hardly any officers faced real consequences. No one even got fired!
The whole thing kicked off after a report in 2014 revealed that 1,400 girls had been abused in South Yorkshire due to failures in police and political leadership. So, the IOPC launched Operation Linden to dig into what went wrong.
Now, these whistleblowers are saying that the investigation itself was a mess. Garry Harper, who worked on it for seven years, said it was just another failure for the survivors. They didn’t get the help they deserved, and the police weren’t held accountable.
He mentioned that he was told to focus on a rookie officer instead of looking into senior officers. It felt like they were being pushed to ignore the bigger issues. Chris Owen, another whistleblower with over 30 years in policing, echoed these concerns, saying the IOPC was poorly managed and chaotic.
Both of them raised their worries with higher-ups at the IOPC, but it seems like their concerns fell on deaf ears. Jayne Senior, who worked with at-risk girls, also tried to bring attention to the grooming issues but faced backlash from some officers.
She was even considered for an investigation herself, which Garry found outrageous. It’s heartbreaking to think that someone trying to help was treated like that. Jayne was shocked to learn about the negative views held against her.
There’s also a report that the IOPC found senior officers failed in their duties to protect children, but it hasn’t been made public. Jayne and another former officer believe the findings were intentionally hidden.
Dr. Angie Heal, who also worked on these issues, said the IOPC’s report was buried despite it confirming their complaints. They feel like the system is failing the very people it’s supposed to protect.
The IOPC, however, insists they did their job thoroughly and that they prioritized the survivors’ welfare. They claim to have investigated numerous allegations and taken significant actions to improve how such cases are handled in the future.
South Yorkshire Police stated they cooperated fully with the IOPC and that the decision to publish any reports is up to the watchdog. It’s a complicated situation, and it’s clear there are still many unanswered questions.