Latest news with #groominggangs
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
South Yorkshire Police should not investigate own officers over grooming, say critics
South Yorkshire Police should not be allowed to investigate claims its own officers abused grooming gang victims, the shadow home secretary has Chris Philp and shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns said the force should be prevented from any involvement in the investigation, to allow it to be conducted "impartially and independently".The BBC reported on Tuesday how five women who were exploited by grooming gangs in Rotherham as children have said they were also abused by police officers in the town at the Home Office and South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment. Among the witness accounts reported by the BBC, was the testimony of one woman who said she was was raped from the age of 12 by a serving South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officer in a marked police car. She claimed the officer would threaten to hand her back to the gang who had been grooming her if she did not Yorkshire Police said it had a "dedicated team" of detectives looking at the allegations, with the investigation being overseen by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC). But in a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Philp and Kearns backed Prof Alexis Jay's view that the force should have no involvement in the investigation themselves. Prof Jay, who led the landmark inquiry which exposed the Rotherham grooming scandal in 2014, said the investigation should be taken over by another and Kearns said: "It is incredibly concerning that the rape and abuse reportedly carried out by South Yorkshire police officers is being investigated by South Yorkshire Police themselves."Whilst we recognise the IOPC is overseeing the investigation, this simply isn't good enough."They added: "There can be no conflicts of interests which may impede the investigation or deny justice."Speaking on Women's Hour on BBC Radio 4, the former Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue said it appeared the South Yorkshire force was "marking their own homework in the most catastrophic way".The Hon Zoë Billingham CBE, who spent 12 years inspecting police forces, said: "Trust and confidence are at the heart of this and victims are not trusting this will be done well, and we have to listen to the victim's voices in this. "It would be perfectly reasonable for another police to be asked to come in and investigate independently under the auspices of the IOPC and I think that should happen immediately."Responding to the BBC's initial report, South Yorkshire Police assistant chief constable Hayley Barnett said: "We know how hard it must be for a victim or survivor, who has been so badly let down in the past, to put their faith into the South Yorkshire Police of today."But she added that victims and survivors were "at the heart" of the investigation, with all actions being taken in their best interests. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Give grooming victims role in Islamophobia definition, suggests Badenoch
Grooming gang victims should help draft the Government's definition of Islamophobia, Kemi Badenoch has suggested. The Conservative Party leader has urged the Prime Minister to suspend the current 'secretive process' to draft the definition and introduce 'full public scrutiny'. She suggested such scrutiny would include adding representatives of victims of the grooming gangs, along with counter-terror experts and free speech activists, to the working group drawing up the definition. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, seen by The Telegraph, Ms Badenoch said: 'Why has the Government refused to include counter-terror experts, free speech campaigners, and representatives of grooming gang victims in their working group?' She said the definition currently being drafted risked 'enabling a de facto blasphemy code' and letting 'fear of offence compromise national security'. Writing to Sir Keir on Friday, Ms Badenoch said: 'I urge the Government to suspend this process entirely, or at the very least ensure full public scrutiny by reopening the call for evidence, and publishing all the consultation responses and recommendations of the working group.' 'Establishing a definition of 'Islamophobia' will further hinder honest discussion of grooming gangs,' she claimed, adding that 'a definition that chills speech will only make it harder to confront Islamist extremism'. She argued 'the term 'Islamophobia' conflates criticism of ideas with hatred of people'. While the term 'anti-Muslim hatred' has been floated as an alternative title for the definition, Ms Badenoch also appeared to dismiss this in her letter to the Prime Minister. She wrote: 'Anti-Muslim hatred is focused on hatred of a people, and there are existing laws to protect against discrimination.' Though it is not clear which definition would be proposed by the panel, the Labour Party has formally adopted for internal purposes the definition of Islamophobia drafted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims. Critics of the APPG definition point to one part which appears to state that using the phrase 'sex groomer' in relation to a person of Muslim background may be Islamophobic. Dominic Grieve, a former Tory MP and chairman of the working group drafting the Islamophobia definition, previously wrote the foreword to the APPG's 2018 report on its Islamophobia definition which included the apparent reference to grooming gangs. Ms Badenoch suggested an Islamophobia definition would make the country less secure. She wrote to Sir Keir: 'We must not let fear of offence compromise national security. Islamist extremism remains the UK's most lethal threat. Yet still, people are scared of causing offence.' Ms Badenoch warned Sir Keir that 'the panel is not impartial' and accused some of its leading members of 'minimising the role of Asian Muslim men in grooming gangs'. She went on to characterise the panel's work as a 'secretive process' and said 'it appears the process is predetermined'. Ms Badenoch has identities 'a disturbing trend in religiously motivated intimidation, from the case of the Batley Grammar School teacher still in hiding after being hounded out of his job by angry mobs, to violent threats against MPs, cinemas cancelling film screenings, and schoolboys suspended for dropping a copy of a Quran.' This week, a businesswoman who is helping to draw up the definition of Islamophobia for Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has become embroiled in a conflict of interest row. Akeela Ahmed is one of five people on a working group advising Ms Rayner on the definition. On Monday, Ms Rayner's department announced that the British Muslim Trust – which Ms Ahmed is due to lead as chief executive – would receive up to £1 million a year to monitor incidents of Islamophobia and 'raise awareness' of hate crime.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Orgreave miners prioritised over grooming gang victims, Tories claim
The Government has been accused of prioritising the Orgreave miners over 'the minors who suffered horrific exploitation at the hands of grooming gangs'. Shadow policing minister Matt Vickers told the Commons that 'this Labour Government's union paymasters should not determine the pecking order of justice in this country'. His comments, which policing minister Dame Diana Johnson branded 'extremely distasteful', came after a public inquiry was announced this week into the violent confrontation at Orgreave during the miners' strike in 1984. The inquiry, expected to launch in the autumn, will investigate the events surrounding clashes at the Orgreave Coking Plant in South Yorkshire on June 18 1984, which caused 120 injuries. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and initially charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. Meanwhile, last month the Government announced that there will be a full statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, after initially dismissing calls for one. Responding to the Orgreave inquiry announcement, Tory frontbencher Mr Vickers said: 'I note from the Government's publication that the inquiry will be statutory, with powers to compel individuals to provide information where necessary. 'This sounds remarkably similar to a request we've made to the Government, one which was repeatedly rejected. 'The victims and survivors of rape gangs deserve detailed updates on the progress of that inquiry, yet the lack of information about how this new inquiry will be set up and how it will compel evidence leads me to conclude that the Government has prioritised the miners over the minors who suffered horrific exploitation at the hands of rape gangs. 'This Labour Government's union paymasters should not determine the pecking order of justice in this country. 'There are still perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and those who have covered it up who have gone unpunished. 'And yet this Government has chosen to prioritise this inquiry.' Mr Vickers also claimed there are 'serious questions' about whether the chairman of the inquiry – the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcock, the Bishop of Sheffield – will be able to 'act in a politically neutral and independent manner'. He asked: 'Can the minister assure the House that the inquiry will not be political in nature and that it will listen to the views of all parties present on the day, so that this is not merely an example of the Government putting the interests of the unions ahead of the police?' Responding, Dame Diana said she was 'surprised' by these remarks because 'I know the shadow minister is a good man'. But she added: 'I must say to him that I found his comments extremely distasteful and also not accurate or correct.' Dame Diana told MPs: 'Our manifesto commitment was to ensure that there was a thorough investigation or inquiry, that the truth about the events at Orgreave came to light, and that is what we are doing today.' She added: 'He will know that there has been a great deal of work to make sure that the hideous, appalling situations that have been uncovered around the grooming gangs are now going to be dealt with. 'The safeguarding minister has given statements to the House. The Home Secretary has given statements to the House. 'There has been a clear list of the action that is being taken, and it seems to me that that work is absolutely right. 'And of course, under the previous government, when the independent child abuse inquiry was set up, there was support across the House for that work of Professor Alexis Jay. 'It's just a great pity that the previous government did not actually enact any of the recommendations that Professor Alexis Jay came forward. 'And I think that is a hugely shameful state of affairs that this Government then inherited. 'But I'm absolutely clear that this Government is dealing with grooming gangs and that that is absolutely the right thing to do but, equally, it's absolutely the right thing to do to set the Orgreave inquiry up today.' Addressing the issue of the chairman of the inquiry, the minister said: 'I was really disappointed again with the remarks about the bishop. 'I think Bishop Pete has previously supported calls for an inquiry and I think it's important to note that that was in the context of his pastoral role in supporting members of the Diocese of Sheffield, who were impacted by the events at Orgreave. 'And he certainly didn't show any favour for either the police or the picketers when calling for that inquiry. 'And I don't think that that call detracts from the necessary credibility, the impartiality and independence that I believe that he will bring to this role as the chair of the inquiry, and I know that he has the backing and the support of the key stakeholders for taking forward that role.' Dame Diana said she wanted the inquiry to be done 'as quickly as possible, but as thoroughly as possible', adding that a time frame of two years was indicated in early discussions. This came in response to Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), who asked for an 'idea of roughly how long she expects the inquiry to report'. The minister added that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has written to all police forces, the National Police Chiefs' Council, the College of Policing and all Government departments to ask that all material they hold relating to the events of Orgreave be retained. DUP MP Jim Shannon raised concerns about the 'retraumatisation' that elderly retired police officers will 'undoubtedly suffer' when asked to recall details of that day in 1984. Dame Diana said the Bishop of Sheffield will look into what support needs to be in place to help witnesses, whether they be from the police, picketers or their families.
Sky News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Greater Manchester Police investigating grooming cases with more than 700 victims
Despite making "significant improvements", Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has lost the "trust and confidence" of some victims of grooming gangs, according to a report by the police watchdog. Michelle Skeer, His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, said that since 2019, when GMP started to review its non-recent child sexual exploitation investigations, "the force has improved its understanding and approach to investigating allegations of child criminal and sexual exploitation". The document, published today, said police have live investigations into "multi-victim, multi-offender" child sexual exploitation inquiries, involving 714 victims and survivors, and 1,099 suspects. GMP later said the force has 1,099 lines of enquiry relating to potential suspects but only 269 who are confirmed. 2:00 • Various training gaps within the investigation team • Lack of consistency in evaluating case files between social care, health and police • Failures to initially support victims meant they had "lost trust and confidence" in police The report was commissioned by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in 2024 to evaluate whether police, councils and health services can protect children from sexual exploitation in the future. Its release comes days after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was launching a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after previously arguing one was not necessary, The findings were issued as the final part of the CSE (child sexual exploitation) Assurance Review process which started in 2017. The first three reports examined non-recent child sexual exploitation in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale. 1:40 HMI Skeer said that the force has been trying to improve its service to those who have experienced sexual exploitation, but previous failings have badly affected trust in GMP. She said: "For some, trust and confidence in the police had been lost, and the force would not be able to rectify their experiences. "It is vital that improvements are led by victims' experiences, and if they do come forward, they are supported, protected and taken seriously." 'Very harsh lessons' prompt positive change Home editor @JasonFarrellSky After three previous reports highly critical of GMP's handling of historical child exploitation cases, now comes a glowing report which indicates the force is learning from mistakes and striving to improve. It shows that with intense scrutiny comes positive change. "We have, on the painful experience of children, learned some very harsh lessons," Chief Constable Steven Watson told me - the deep scars of the past have been a strong motivation. There are those who believe this inspectorate report which scrutinises police processes and management doesn't take enough account of victim experience - and looking at the issue from that perspective may yield more negative results. The mayor's office in Manchester is conscious of this and have been actively calling for a national inquiry, knowing that any UK investigation would undoubtedly look closely at Greater Manchester. But it would be wrong not to congratulate some clear improvements at GMP and one thing Louise Casey's rapid review highlighted was that GMP are one of very few forces that are now properly collecting ethnicity data on perpetrators. A recent report by Baroness Casey found a significant over-representation of Asian men who are suspects in grooming gangs in Greater Manchester, adding though authorities are in "denial" more needs to be done to understand why this is the case. Inspectors also said there were "training gaps" in some investigation teams and issues with data sharing, with local councils sometimes not willing to provide detectives with information, leading to "significant delays in investigations" into grooming gangs. It cites problems with intelligence provided by Manchester City Council, which took months to arrive and "was so heavily redacted that some pages contained only a few words", the report said. 6:52 GMP is the only force in the country to set up a dedicated team to investigate grooming gangs. Called the Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team (CSE MIT) it has about 100 staff and a ringfenced budget. In October 2024, the force told inspectors there were 59 live multi-victim, multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations, of which 13 were being managed by the CSE MIT. The report adds: "The force fully accepts that it made mistakes in the past. "It has taken positive and effective steps to learn from these mistakes and improve how it investigates recent and non-recent child sexual exploitation." Separately, the Baird Inquiry published in July 2024 found officers at GMP were abusing their power - making unlawful arrests, unlawful and demeaning strip searches, sometimes treating victims as perpetrators, and traumatising those who have suffered sexual abuse or domestic violence.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bradford Council has 'nothing to hide' over grooming review
A council has said it has "nothing to hide" and will fully cooperate with a national review into grooming of Bradford Council met on Tuesday for the first time since Baroness Casey published her report and called for a full national inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in England and Rebecca Poulsen said there had been calls for a national inquiry for years – including by Keighley MP Robbie Moore - but the council and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin previously said it was not Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the authority would now work with the review and hand over un-redacted documents. She said: "Child sexual exploitation is a terrible crime and has a long lasting impact on its victims."Anyone who has spoken to victims know how appalling and brutal the perpetrators are."The victims should have been protected and loved, not tortured in this way."She said it was clear victims had been let down because this was the finding of numerous reviews on this issue that had been published by the council. "These reviews made for stomach churning reading," she went on to tell members the way the council and police dealt with CSE was now vastly different from a few years Brendan Stubbs shared concerns about the council redacting information that could "hinder the national review".He asked: "Can you assure us that Bradford Council will only redact what is totally necessary and not hinder victims from getting the justice they deserve?" Ms Hinchcliffe responded that she had "sent all reports we've done unredacted to the Home Secretary, so we've got nothing to hide here".Meanwhile, Ms Poulsen said the council's co-operation into the review was "about time"."We welcome your U-turn, but you have broken your trust with the victims I have spoken to," she leader councillor Imran Khan said there was "no more abhorrent crime that we will ever talk about in this Council chamber"."Every community finds this crime abhorrent," he added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
