Labour has come under fire after refusing to hold a public inquiry into historic sexual abuse by grooming gangs in Oldham.

Nazir Afzal and Maggie Oliver really understand the issues around grooming gangs. We’ve had numerous inquiries, their recommendations consistent. That’s where the focus should be, on implementing recommendations. Use whatever money is available to improve investigations, prosecutions, support for victims but, especially in preventive skilled support for children and families.
My direct experience was not that police/social care/health etc were ignoring the crimes in order to avoid being accused of racism. It was more because of the complexities of prosecuting where victims were seen as likely to be destroyed by defence lawyers. I’m not denying poor practice or dreadful responses by individual police officers.
One key issue was child sexual abuse within families was investigated by dedicated, specially trained officers. Child abuse, even organised sexual exploitation like these girls experienced, was picked up by whichever uniformed officer happened to be there. There should have been force wide teams - which I expect is one of the recommendations

This isn’t politics. It’s an evil crime. The more publicity the better because it might force some action and save some others.

Bill Gates, interfering with cows diets worldwide.

Larry Fink, Blackrock CEO, cosying up to our PM

Nothing unique about rich men meddling in politics to gain advantages.

I suppose it depends on one’s politics who’s meddling is acceptable…

Good Morning Dickens thank you,

nanna8

Who cares whether he attacks Tories or Labour people? If he is speaking for the victims here ,good for him. Maybe people might actually do something about it because of his high profile. Instead of criticism he should receive praise.

I think you’re missing the point. He isn’t an elected representative for his country, and he has no right to use his wealth as a platform for influencing politics in any country other than his own. He is interfering in politics all over the world (without any political background or any knowledge underpinning his comments) and is being allowed to do so, purely because of his wealth.

It is time to re-appraise the governments use of X imo.

It is becoming a real cesspit with many commentators turning to other media outlets like bluesky

A fascist running X should not be given carte blanche and needs careful control.

Unfortunately a lot of right wingers completely close their eyes to all the white abusers of young girls or boys It’s a wonderful stick to beat immigrants with
I have worked with so many people who were abused in childhood and never has it been by an Asian man
It really depends what area you live in This is not in any way defended these awful men but it should never be a stick to beat every immigrant with

It is a much much much bigger problem than immigration but it’s so easy to use it to boost your dislike and disapproval of other cultures
Musk is supporting the far right in other countries and he’s a Tommy Robinson supporter, need I say more any stick to beat anyone with a background outside little Britain seems to be the order of the day for many and for some posters on here
You can always know who started a thread without looking

“A former chief prosecutor and a police whistleblower who uncovered a notorious paedophile gang have criticised demands from senior Conservatives and the billionaire Elon Musk for a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation.
Nazir Afzal, the ex-chief prosecutor who was central to successful prosecution of the Rochdale grooming gang, said lengthy and expensive inquiries were not acted upon by the previous Conservative government…………………

……… comments follow a growing row prompted by Elon Musk, the billionaire ally of Donald Trump, who demanded a national inquiry and accused Keir Starmer of failing to prosecute child rapists in Oldham in Greater Manchester. Musk’s intervention came as part of a long stream of posts late on Wednesday night which included supportive comments about Tommy Robinson, the far-right activist who is in jail for contempt of court.”

Guardian

Who cares whether he attacks Tories or Labour people? If he is speaking for the victims here ,good for him. Maybe people might actually do something about it because of his high profile. Instead of criticism he should receive praise.

Anniebach

I didn’t say. I. Resent his intrusion, why a billionaire involved in
American politics is suddenly speaking of a town in England, why speak of Tommy Robinson , why is he attacking Labour government but I don’t recall his criticism of the Tory government?

...Good Morning Anniebach

All good questions.

I'm not sure his goal is altruistic. Why now? Why make controversial and sensational comments about the UK being on the brink of civil war?

Why is he so invested in British politics?

I didn’t say. I. Resent his intrusion, why a billionaire involved in
American politics is suddenly speaking of a town in England, why speak of Tommy Robinson , why is he attacking Labour government but I don’t recall his criticism of the Tory government?

We may resent his intrusion into British affairs but at least he is bringing these matters out into the open. Too much has been brushed aside for too long. If it takes an outsider to get justice done, so be it.

Why did Musk speak of Oldham crimes ?

It has been recognised as an across the board failure to understand and prosecute grooming gangs of all backgrounds. Yes the ethnic element was relevant in some cases but the reports indicate failures across the board with victim blaming in many cases.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67655654

This is precisely why the Gangs Taskforce scheme was set up last year by the government
www.gov.uk/government/news/grooming-gangs-taskforce-arrests-hundreds-in-first-year

Read about the arrests made and the development of expert teams in it.

Do we need another inquiry or respect the opinions of Both Nazir Afzal and Maggie Oliver. Oliver said ““We’ve already had a national abuse inquiry – seven years, 20 recommendations and none implemented



“We need someone who is going to do something not just talk"

What went wrong with ‘grooming gang’ cases?
Concerns about the abuse of underage girls by members of minority communities in towns in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and some Midlands counties first surfaced in 2002, when they were raised by the then-Labour MP for Keighley, Ann Cryer.

Subsequent reports and investigations confirmed that some people believed “a fear of being labelled ‘racist’ had hindered the ability of official agencies to combat the grooming and sexual exploitation”.

However, Mr Starmer did not become director of public prosecutions and head of the CPS until 1 November 2008, four years later than the Facebook posts suggest, and we can find no evidence that he intervened in prosecutions against Muslim men accused of rape, or gave instructions that they should not be pursued, with the aim of reducing anti-Islamic sentiment.

If he was so caring towards his fellow man why does he not use his vast wealth in a more philanthropic way? Better to ask who is feeding him this stuff and what’s in it for him?

If Musk draws attention to a lack of action against these creeps well good for him. He is a human concerned about other humans and entitled to state the case. Who cares what country he comes from? Get your priorities right.

This has (successfully) turned into yet another anti-Labour, pro Reform thread artfully manoeuvred by FGT. Shame on you for using the appalling rapes of children to do so.

It’s too broad to say tbh

I have just commented on Afghanistan, is that ok under the new rules?

Well 100 Labour activists crossed the pond in support of Kamala.
Maybe sauce for the goose?

Musk needs to concentrate his efforts on all that is wrong in the USA.

Galaxy

If in this conversation the people you are angry at is Musk, etc then I dont know what to say.

👏👏

The. Tories claim it’s overdue, ‘.

Witzend

Whatever the rights and wrongs, I firmly believe that Elon Musk should keep his nose out of our affairs!

I agree!
Nothing to do with him.

2022:
But it has now emerged that in 2022, when the Tories were still in power, the then safeguarding minister Amanda Solloway also rejected Oldham Council’s request.

She said: “In relation to your request that the government institute a public inquiry, the government continues to be clear that it is for the local authorities in individual towns and cities, which are responsible for delivering local services, to commission local inquiries.

“It is essential that local areas learn from what happened in the past, and to take appropriate action to drive improvement in local services.”