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| Rochdale abuse: Social services 'missed opportunities' | Rochdale abuse: Social services 'missed opportunities' |
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| Social services and police "missed opportunities" to stop the sexual abuse of young girls in Rochdale, a report into a grooming scandal has revealed. | Social services and police "missed opportunities" to stop the sexual abuse of young girls in Rochdale, a report into a grooming scandal has revealed. |
| "Deficiencies" and "patchy" training of front line staff were behind the failings, the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board said in its review of child sexual exploitation. | |
| It comes after nine men were jailed in May for grooming girls as young as 13. | It comes after nine men were jailed in May for grooming girls as young as 13. |
| Lawyers say the findings could support "legal action against social services". | Lawyers say the findings could support "legal action against social services". |
| The report - ordered in the aftermath of the grooming trial in Rochdale, Greater Manchester - reviews the work of local agencies, including the council, police and the Crown Prosecution Service between 2007 and 2012 in safeguarding children at risk of sexual exploitation. | The report - ordered in the aftermath of the grooming trial in Rochdale, Greater Manchester - reviews the work of local agencies, including the council, police and the Crown Prosecution Service between 2007 and 2012 in safeguarding children at risk of sexual exploitation. |
| Using feedback from 23 support staff, it charts the experience of one victim from 2007 to 2010. | Using feedback from 23 support staff, it charts the experience of one victim from 2007 to 2010. |
| Failed to act | Failed to act |
| It reveals the girl spoke to support workers on several occasions about the abuse she was suffering - including giving a detailed complaint to detectives. | It reveals the girl spoke to support workers on several occasions about the abuse she was suffering - including giving a detailed complaint to detectives. |
| However, the report suggests some child protection services failed to act and the abuse continued. | However, the report suggests some child protection services failed to act and the abuse continued. |
| It says: "While some organisations were consistently supportive in their response, overall child welfare organisations missed opportunities to provide a comprehensive, co-ordinated and timely response and, in addition, the criminal justice system missed opportunities to bring the perpetrators to justice." | It says: "While some organisations were consistently supportive in their response, overall child welfare organisations missed opportunities to provide a comprehensive, co-ordinated and timely response and, in addition, the criminal justice system missed opportunities to bring the perpetrators to justice." |
| It also reports that "activity to disrupt alleged offenders was developing on the ground, but this was not always followed through at a more senior level". | It also reports that "activity to disrupt alleged offenders was developing on the ground, but this was not always followed through at a more senior level". |
| "The early investigations of crimes and the prosecution of alleged offenders were flawed." | "The early investigations of crimes and the prosecution of alleged offenders were flawed." |
| The report also shows some officials believed vulnerable girls as young as 10 - who were being groomed for sexual abuse - were "making their own choices". | The report also shows some officials believed vulnerable girls as young as 10 - who were being groomed for sexual abuse - were "making their own choices". |
| One of the girl's parents said they were simply told their teenage daughter was hanging out with a bad crowd, it says. | One of the girl's parents said they were simply told their teenage daughter was hanging out with a bad crowd, it says. |
| Richard Scorer of Pannone Solicitors, which represents one of the victims in the recent case, said he expected legal proceedings to follow: "There's clear evidence that social services failed to act, failed to intervene, when they had this mass of information, about this grooming and exploitation of young girls. | Richard Scorer of Pannone Solicitors, which represents one of the victims in the recent case, said he expected legal proceedings to follow: "There's clear evidence that social services failed to act, failed to intervene, when they had this mass of information, about this grooming and exploitation of young girls. |
| "They failed to act on that information, even though they had a responsibility to do that. And that's the basis of any legal action we'll be putting forward." | "They failed to act on that information, even though they had a responsibility to do that. And that's the basis of any legal action we'll be putting forward." |
| He added: "Obviously we need to... build up the detail of exactly what happened. | He added: "Obviously we need to... build up the detail of exactly what happened. |
| "But I think this report probably does give us a pretty firm basis for legal action against social services." | "But I think this report probably does give us a pretty firm basis for legal action against social services." |
| 'Passed around' for sex | 'Passed around' for sex |
| Lynne Jones, chair of the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board, said the council had "responded" to the review and had "improvements" had already been put in place. | Lynne Jones, chair of the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board, said the council had "responded" to the review and had "improvements" had already been put in place. |
| "I believe organisations are working better together, sharing information to ensure children are protected and that perpetrators of these crimes are prosecuted," she said. | "I believe organisations are working better together, sharing information to ensure children are protected and that perpetrators of these crimes are prosecuted," she said. |
| "Raising awareness so that young people are better equipped to understand what is happening to them or their friends has been delivered to 10,000 young people." | "Raising awareness so that young people are better equipped to understand what is happening to them or their friends has been delivered to 10,000 young people." |
| She also said staff training had been improved and "stronger joint working" on police operations was helping to bring more perpetrators to justice. | She also said staff training had been improved and "stronger joint working" on police operations was helping to bring more perpetrators to justice. |
| In May, nine men who ran a child sexual exploitation ring in Rochdale were jailed. | In May, nine men who ran a child sexual exploitation ring in Rochdale were jailed. |
| They were given sentences ranging from four to 19 years at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of offences including rape. | They were given sentences ranging from four to 19 years at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of offences including rape. |
| All were convicted of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with girls under the age of 16. | All were convicted of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with girls under the age of 16. |
| The court heard the group plied five victims with drink and drugs and "passed them around" for sex. | The court heard the group plied five victims with drink and drugs and "passed them around" for sex. |
| The girls were abused at two takeaway restaurants in the Heywood area of Rochdale by the men aged between 24 and 59. The takeaways are now under new management. | The girls were abused at two takeaway restaurants in the Heywood area of Rochdale by the men aged between 24 and 59. The takeaways are now under new management. |
| One man later received a further term of 22 years on another 30 child rape charges. | One man later received a further term of 22 years on another 30 child rape charges. |
| It emerged during the trial the police and social services had missed opportunities to stop the abuse. | It emerged during the trial the police and social services had missed opportunities to stop the abuse. |
| The prime purpose of the review will be to establish what further lessons can be learned to improve the way children are safeguarded. | The prime purpose of the review will be to establish what further lessons can be learned to improve the way children are safeguarded. |