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Rochdale abuse: Social services 'missed opportunities' Rochdale abuse: Social services 'missed opportunities'
(35 minutes later)
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."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 after the grooming cases came to light 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.
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 being abused - 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.
Welcoming the report, a father of one victim said: "I do want to see people named, shamed and sacked, I don't want them transferred to another department, pensioned off or given early retirement." Welcoming the report, a father of one victim said he wanted "to see people named, shamed and sacked".
"I don't want them transferred to another department, pensioned off or given early retirement."
He added: "I do spot that there's no reference to the question of race in the report, as to whether that was a factor in their lack of willingness to act."He added: "I do spot that there's no reference to the question of race in the report, as to whether that was a factor in their lack of willingness to act."
During the trial there were demonstrations by far-right groups after it emerged that white girls were being exploited by the gang, eight of whom were of Pakistani origin, with another from Afghanistan.During the trial there were demonstrations by far-right groups after it emerged that white girls were being exploited by the gang, eight of whom were of Pakistani origin, with another from Afghanistan.
However, Greater Manchester Police said that there was no racial element to the case. It said that the main issue was older men exploiting vulnerable young women and girls. Greater Manchester Police said that there was no racial element to the case, and that the main issue was older men exploiting vulnerable young women and girls.
Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk, who described the report as "limited", said: "It doesn't give a voice to the victims." However, following the gang's convictions, Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk said it would be "daft not to believe that race plays a part" in the grooming.
He added: "It doesn't explain why the social workers, why social services had a culture of blaming the victims for the abuse that they received at the hands of these perpetrators." Mr Danczuk, who described the report as "limited", said it did not "give a voice to the victims [or] explain why social services had a culture of blaming the victims for the abuse".
'Failed to act' 'Clear evidence'
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, as the report gave a "pretty firm basis for legal action against social services".
"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 said there was "clear evidence that social services failed to intervene when they had information about grooming and exploitation of young girls".
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."
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 are prosecuted," she said.
Child exploitation She added that literature aimed at "raising awareness" of abuse had been given 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." In May, nine men who ran a child sexual exploitation ring in Rochdale were jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of offences including rape and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with girls under the age of 16.
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.
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.
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.
One man later received a further term of 22 years on another 30 child rape charges.