Burnham ‘not opposed’ to new national grooming inquiry

Andy Burnham ‘would not be opposed’ to a new national inquiry into grooming gangs the day after a Conservative bid to set one up failed.

Labour MPs voted against the amendment to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill last night (Wednesday) to commission a national inquiry into widespread child sexual exploitation.

It came after the Home Office rejected Oldham Council’s request for a new inquiry into abuse in the town.

In Greater Manchester, the mayor launched a review into systematic child sexual abuse shortly after taking office in 2017.

It has produced ‘blistering’ reports on the authorities’ response in Oldham, Manchester, and Rochdale.

However, no council or police officer has faced criminal proceedings as a result of those reviews, prompting the mayor to say he is open for a new national inquiry.

“The review I instigated was not a public inquiry,” Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester today (Thursday).

“People were not required to give evidence. 

“There’s a difference at a local level and a statutory public inquiry.

"There will always be limitations with what you can do with a local review.

"The review team could not compel someone to speak to them.

“That’s why I am not opposed to that sort of [national] review. 

“I do think there’s a case for limited national inquiry which draws on local reviews to draw out some of these issues which compels people to speak.

"It may draw out charges.”

The last Conservative government received the final report from the latest inquiry into grooming, called the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, in 2022.

Ministers then did not implement its 20 recommendations before they left office.

Author Prof Alexis Jay described the sexual abuse of children as an ‘epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake’.

It examined abuse by organised groups following multiple convictions of sexual offences against children across the UK between 2010-2014, including in Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale, and Bristol.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.