Rochdale report shows need for GMP investigation
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) must be formally investigated over the horrific failings that have taken place in multiple boroughs around child sex abuse, following the publication of the third report by Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway into failings across the area, say Oldham Liberal Democrats.
The disturbing details in the report show that the consistent failures that GMP were guilty of, recurred in different boroughs and with different teams.
Deputy leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrats, councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “My heart goes out to the people identified in this report who were failed time and again.
“While this report, and the two previous ones, have identified the failings, the authors do not have the power to take action against the police and other authorities, and this must be corrected.
“There should be a formal, independent investigation of GMP which has the power to take action against the organisation, or any guilty individuals. The Government owes this to the people of Greater Manchester.”
This was emphasised by the question asked at the last meeting of Oldham Council, where in response to a question from the Liberal Democrats Howard Sykes MBE, Council leader Arooj Shah revealed that she was unaware of whether action had been taken against any members of staff involved in the cases investigated in Oldham.
Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “It is vital that we have clear, simple and effective ways for people to report cases and know that they will be acted upon.
“However, many people don’t want to have to relive these cases, or are not ready to report them, and for them it is vital that we have counselling support available – which is why the services in Oldham provided by Keeping Our Girls Safe [KOGS] are so important, as well as other services across Greater Manchester.
“Action must be taken against GMP, and other local authorities, in a way which minimises the impact and stress on those women who have had to relive such traumatic experiences already.”