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| Cooper announces inquiries into grooming gangs | Cooper announces inquiries into grooming gangs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Home Secretary outlines government's plan to tackle grooming gangs | |
| Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans for a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries. | Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans for a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries. |
| She stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry, as called for by the Conservatives and some Labour MPs, but this marks a clear shift in the government's position. | She stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry, as called for by the Conservatives and some Labour MPs, but this marks a clear shift in the government's position. |
| Cooper said top lawyer Tom Crowther, who led an inquiry in Telford, would help Oldham and four other pilot areas yet to be named, develop their own reviews. | Cooper said top lawyer Tom Crowther, who led an inquiry in Telford, would help Oldham and four other pilot areas yet to be named, develop their own reviews. |
| She also announced a "rapid" three month national audit headed by veteran government troubleshooter Baroness Louise Casey to examine the demographics of the gangs and their victims, as well as "cultural drivers" behind the offending. | She also announced a "rapid" three month national audit headed by veteran government troubleshooter Baroness Louise Casey to examine the demographics of the gangs and their victims, as well as "cultural drivers" behind the offending. |
| Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the plan was "wholly inadequate" and repeated his call for a full national inquiry. | Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the plan was "wholly inadequate" and repeated his call for a full national inquiry. |
| He expressed concern that the local inquiries would not have the powers to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath. | He expressed concern that the local inquiries would not have the powers to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath. |
| Between 1997 and 2013, towns and cities - including Oldham and Rotherham - were blighted by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani descent, who raped and trafficked children as young as 11. | Between 1997 and 2013, towns and cities - including Oldham and Rotherham - were blighted by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani descent, who raped and trafficked children as young as 11. |
| An independent report, published by Prof Alexis Jay in 2014, estimated 1,400 girls had been abused in Rotherham. She would later go on to lead a national review into child sexual abuse, which lasted seven years and made 20 recommendations when it was published in 2022. | An independent report, published by Prof Alexis Jay in 2014, estimated 1,400 girls had been abused in Rotherham. She would later go on to lead a national review into child sexual abuse, which lasted seven years and made 20 recommendations when it was published in 2022. |
| In recent days three Labour MPs publicly expressed support for a national inquiry - Dan Carden, Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, and Rochdale MP Paul Waugh. | In recent days three Labour MPs publicly expressed support for a national inquiry - Dan Carden, Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, and Rochdale MP Paul Waugh. |
| Other senior Labour figures, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, also joined the calls, saying they would support a limited new inquiry. | Other senior Labour figures, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, also joined the calls, saying they would support a limited new inquiry. |
| The issue had been thrust into the spotlight by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has criticised the prime minister for not calling a national inquiry. | The issue had been thrust into the spotlight by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has criticised the prime minister for not calling a national inquiry. |
| Musk responded to Cooper's announcement by saying on his X platform: "I hope this is a proper investigation" adding: "This is a step in the right direction, but the results will speak for themselves." | Musk responded to Cooper's announcement by saying on his X platform: "I hope this is a proper investigation" adding: "This is a step in the right direction, but the results will speak for themselves." |
| Prof Jay rejected calls for a new national inquiry last week, saying victims want to see action on her recommendations and a new inquiry would cause delays. | Prof Jay rejected calls for a new national inquiry last week, saying victims want to see action on her recommendations and a new inquiry would cause delays. |
| The prime minister and Labour ministers had said their priority was to implement the Jay recommendations, and Cooper announced that one of the key points - mandatory reporting - would be added to the Crime and Policing Bill. | The prime minister and Labour ministers had said their priority was to implement the Jay recommendations, and Cooper announced that one of the key points - mandatory reporting - would be added to the Crime and Policing Bill. |
| In a statement in the House of Commons, Cooper said that despite Prof Jay's report and other inquiries, "shamefully little progress had been made". | In a statement in the House of Commons, Cooper said that despite Prof Jay's report and other inquiries, "shamefully little progress had been made". |
| "That has got to change," she said and added that by Easter, the government would set out a "clear timetable" for implementing the Jay report's recommendations. | "That has got to change," she said and added that by Easter, the government would set out a "clear timetable" for implementing the Jay report's recommendations. |
| Cooper argued that "effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide" | Cooper argued that "effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide" |
| She said Tom Crowther, who led an inquiry in Telford, would help the government develop a new framework for "victim-centred locally-led inquiries where they are needed". | She said Tom Crowther, who led an inquiry in Telford, would help the government develop a new framework for "victim-centred locally-led inquiries where they are needed". |
| She said this would begin by working with Oldham Council and up to four other pilot areas, with £5m of an overall £10m package being put up to "get work off the ground". | |
| Champion pressed the home secretary on whether the inquires would be able to summon witnesses to give evidence. | Champion pressed the home secretary on whether the inquires would be able to summon witnesses to give evidence. |
| "What we need to do is make sure there have been no cover-ups, and it's only if it's on a statutory footing that we can do that," she said. | "What we need to do is make sure there have been no cover-ups, and it's only if it's on a statutory footing that we can do that," she said. |
| Cooper replied that different approaches could be taken and the government would work with local mayors and local councils to "make sure that we can strengthen the accountability arrangements". | Cooper replied that different approaches could be taken and the government would work with local mayors and local councils to "make sure that we can strengthen the accountability arrangements". |
| She said this included introducing a "duty of candour" which requires public servants to tell the truth. | She said this included introducing a "duty of candour" which requires public servants to tell the truth. |
| The separate audit looking at the ethnicity of grooming gangs and their victims will be led by Baroness Louise Casey, who previously led the 2015 review of Rotherham Council. | The separate audit looking at the ethnicity of grooming gangs and their victims will be led by Baroness Louise Casey, who previously led the 2015 review of Rotherham Council. |
| Casey has already been appointed to lead a commission into social care, but Downing Street insisted the two pieces of work would not clash, saying her work on grooming gangs would be finished by the start of April. | |
| In her statement, Cooper also announced she would be asking chief constables in England and Wales to re-examine historic gang exploitation cases and re-open investigations "were appropriate". This would be backed by £2.5m of funding, she said. | |
| More victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation will be able to seek an independent review of their cases, the government has said. | More victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation will be able to seek an independent review of their cases, the government has said. |
| 'We've been fighting for this' | 'We've been fighting for this' |
| On the same day Cooper was delivering her statement, BBC News spent time with four survivors of historic sex abuse in Oldham. | On the same day Cooper was delivering her statement, BBC News spent time with four survivors of historic sex abuse in Oldham. |
| They had travelled to Birmingham to meet Jess Phillips, the government minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls. | They had travelled to Birmingham to meet Jess Phillips, the government minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls. |
| Listening to Cooper's statement, "Sarah" and "Amelia" exchanged a hug. | Listening to Cooper's statement, "Sarah" and "Amelia" exchanged a hug. |
| "We've been fighting for this," they said through tears. | "We've been fighting for this," they said through tears. |
| After spending time with Phillips, Amelia said: "I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm satisfied for now but actions speak louder than words." | After spending time with Phillips, Amelia said: "I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm satisfied for now but actions speak louder than words." |
| But survivors "Sam" and "Jane" were not satisfied and said they did not feel they had been listened to. | But survivors "Sam" and "Jane" were not satisfied and said they did not feel they had been listened to. |
| "We want a government inquiry into Oldham and into other towns," Sam told the BBC. | "We want a government inquiry into Oldham and into other towns," Sam told the BBC. |
| "We know what is right and what is wrong. We know that a government-led inquiry differs from a council-led inquiry." | "We know what is right and what is wrong. We know that a government-led inquiry differs from a council-led inquiry." |
| The women expressed their frustration that the government decision for Thursday's announcement was already made before their meeting had taken place. | The women expressed their frustration that the government decision for Thursday's announcement was already made before their meeting had taken place. |
| "It's not just us being let down," Jane explained. "We're survivors, we've been through what we've been through. | "It's not just us being let down," Jane explained. "We're survivors, we've been through what we've been through. |
| "It's the children now and other people going through it, we don't want them to be let down. | "It's the children now and other people going through it, we don't want them to be let down. |
| "That's the whole point of what we're fighting for. We will not allow them to be let down in any shape or form. We will always stand up for them" | "That's the whole point of what we're fighting for. We will not allow them to be let down in any shape or form. We will always stand up for them" |
| "Sarah," "Amelia" and "Jane" are not the real names of these women, whose identities the BBC is protecting. | "Sarah," "Amelia" and "Jane" are not the real names of these women, whose identities the BBC is protecting. |
| Last week, Sarah, Jane and Amelia all spoke to the BBC about their concerns, here. | Last week, Sarah, Jane and Amelia all spoke to the BBC about their concerns, here. |