Council issue update on Oldham’s local inquiry into CSE

Oldham council are still waiting for news from the government after putting their local inquiry into historic child sexual exploitation ‘on hold’, the council leader has confirmed. 

The council started the process of finding a chair for the new Oldham Review in January – but have had to pause the process since June, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs.

Speaking on behalf of a number of CSE survivors from Oldham at a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 12, former councillor Lucia Rea demanded clarification on the current status of the local inquiry. Rea previously criticised the council for its ‘poor communication’ with survivors, stating that many have been left ‘in the dark’ about how both national and local reviews are progressing. 

Oldham’s town hall boss Arooj Shah shared she had ‘no direct involvement’ with the process, but read out an update from officers who are liaising with government officials. 

The note explained that the local authority was in the process of engaging Tom Crowther KC – who led the Telford reviews – to spearhead Oldham’s investigation immediately after the Home Office announced financial support for five local inquiries in January. 

But this process had been put ‘on pause’ when the Labour government later announced intentions to hold a national inquiry. The change of decision came in light of the Casey Report, an audit into group-based child sexual exploitation, which recommended a more thorough national review. 

Cllr Shah read: “At this point, conversations with the Home Office focused on whether it might be better for a local inquiry in Oldham to form part of the statutory national inquiry with the additional legal powers available to it.

“Conversations were held about how this could be implemented and what it would mean for our existing plans here in Oldham. An update was provided to survivors to explain that the process was underway and was likely to take some time. 

“We continue to await news from the Home Office of the proposed chair of the national inquiry and confirmation of Oldham’s position in relation to that inquiry.

“Officers have requested an update on Oldham’s position within the planned national inquiry and the timescales for that information to be made available. 

“We will continue to seek the best outcome we can that ensures survivors have their testimonies heard and get the answers they deserve.” 
After the council leader concluded the statement, Ms Rea, who was present in the public gallery, could be heard yelling ‘But when?’ before leaving the chamber. 

The national inquiry appeared to be in turmoil at the end of October, after four survivors quit the panel, taking issue with the broad scope of the review and accusing the government of political manipulation – an allegation which has been denied. 

The two frontrunners to chair the investigation, the former police officer Jim Gamble and the social worker Annie Hudson, then withdrew their candidacies. 

Five survivors are backing Jess Phillips to carry on the national inquiry. But experts believe it could take months to find new chairs to spearhead the inquiry.