Keir Starmer announces statutory inquiry into so called grooming gangs/organised child sexual abuse and exploitation

petra

Let’s not forget Andrew Norfolk the Times Journalist who was the first person to expose this horror in 2010

I tried to link his podcast but failed. It’s well worth listening to.

Yes I do remember reading his expose, The Times was the first publication brave enough to run with the story, prior to which Andrew Norfolk had been warned off the subject on the basis "too hot to handle, uncomfortable truths" In retrospect how awful that the whole sordid debacle was covered up for so long on such spurious grounds.

Let’s not forget Andrew Norfolk the Times Journalist who was the first person to expose this horror in 2010

I tried to link his podcast but failed. It’s well worth listening to.

The most important aspect as far as I'm concerned, is it still happening? I read, on BBC website a Police Officer in the Oxford area said it is.

Here we are again. Yet another inquiry into a national disgrace.
We will be told that lessons will be learned, the victims will receive grovelling apologies and apart from the disgusting perpetrators, not one person who enabled these gangs to abuse for over 20 years will be charged with anything.

and to find ways of spreading awareness and support to the most vulnerable as how not to get involved

Wyllow3 I absolutely understand your point but it reminds me of the criticism of workers who expressed concern the girls were making dangerous choices.

We need proper early years and preventive family support services as the evidence is that’s what helps protect children and vulnerable parents

I hope reports to police and other agencies will no longer be treated as they often were before Nazir Afzal and Keir Starmee changed things

The last enquiry cost £400 million pounds, reporting in 2022, no easy matter to find that again, as it could run to that if prosecutions follow, and recommendations that cost money - possibly more.

Please don’t worry about the cost. The money the government spends on the inquiry and any subsequent actions resulting from it will, for the most part, generate some extra employment, extra money for businesses or public employees which will service the inquiry, from transport and catering to admin and lawyers, and anything in between. This, of itself, will generate tax revenue, as financial transactions which cover wages, fees, purchases etc. always do. Government spending never totally disappears into a big black hole, it generates economic activity in varying degrees. The only time it doesn’t mostly return as tax is if a recipient doesn’t spend all of what they receive into the economy, i.e. they save it and it becomes ‘dead’ money.

Overall this is my POV:

For those calming it a "U turn":

Far from it, Starmer will be behind it all the way. It's necessary to appreciate why they were slow to act, it's very complex, as plans were afoot, but it costs an enormous amount of money.

The last enquiry cost £400 million pounds, reporting in 2022, no easy matter to find that again, as it could run to that if prosecutions follow, and recommendations that cost money - possibly more.

And what did the Conservatives do on the 20 (or 22) recommendations?

One was carried out, ie, policing units set up in some areas.

They dodged the issues because of cost.

It's wrong to say the Labour Party are worried about the "Muslim vote" - of course it matters, I'm not naive, but neither do I jump to conclusions.

The Muslims I know in my multicultural Labour Party locally are appalled by it.

There have been repeated statements by leading Muslim figures, preaching, there are statements from Muslim Women's Groups. The spokesperson for the Muslim council of the UK was a woman 2021-2025. (references if you want)

It's all very well grumbling about it not happening, but are we all here actually prepared to pay for a rise in income tax to pay for the inquiry and the outcomes? I am, but who else honestly is?

Louise Casey, in charge, is very good.
Top choice, no one doubts that.

I hope it’s valuable - hopefully educating both public, victims, and authorities as to better caring and practice.



There need to be appropriate calling to account:

And to find ways of spreading awareness and support to the most vulnerable as how not to get involved?

Starmer has always made it clear that women and children are priorities in his work at the CPA when he helped drag it into focus, despite resistance from those who would excuse abuse, just think of bodies like the C of E!

A key figure in the prosecution of the Pakistani Grooming gangs wasNazir Afzal of the CPS. And of course, the utterly splendid work right through the whole appalling story, the ex policewoman, Maggie Oliver, as featured in a recent GB news fundraiser.

Thank you so much Allira, how on earth do you get the search function to work on GN, it never works for me.

Oreo

Galaxy

I wish I had saved the previous thread on this.

It’s in my memory😄
There was every kind of argument going as to why Starmer was right not to have an inquiry and how it wasn’t needed and other defensive guff.

Was it this thread?

www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1344066-Labour-has-come-under-fire-after-refusing-to-hold-a-public-inquiry-into-historic-sexual-abuse-by-grooming-gangs-in-Oldham?pg=23

Isn’t that like predicting that the sun will rise tomorrow though? I can’t think of any national inquiry which has had a different outcome than that.
That’s partly why I’m on the fence - the other reason is that whatever improvements can be made will perhaps mitigate, but still not put an end to this type of abuse.

I haven’t seen the terms of reference. Would welcome an examination of the recommendations of previous enquiries- which have been acted on and have they had any effect, and if some of them have lain fallow, why. Would be against another review going over old ground

I predict institutional failure on an epic scale.

Oreo

Galaxy

I wish I had saved the previous thread on this.

It’s in my memory😄
There was every kind of argument going as to why Starmer was right not to have an inquiry and how it wasn’t needed and other defensive guff.

My view hasn’t changed at all. Has yours?

I wasn’t defensive in my support of Starmer’s position before Casey’s audit. There have been numerous inquiries and Casdon is right to raise the reality of further expense and delays.
Unlike Starmer, I haven’t read every (indeed any) word of Casey’s audit but if she’s convinced it’s needed and has convinced Starmer, then it seems it has to happen

I don't think it will achieve anything or help anybody.

I suppose that's guff.

Galaxy

I wish I had saved the previous thread on this.

It’s in my memory😄
There was every kind of argument going as to why Starmer was right not to have an inquiry and how it wasn’t needed and other defensive guff.

Bridie22

Good, about time !

Yes!

I wish I had saved the previous thread on this.

This has, as Iam64, says, been carried out by proper process.

Can we have more of this please!

I’m on the fence, as so often national inquiries take years, cost millions and don’t change the likelihood of similar things happening in future. I’d like to see the terms of reference. I really hope there will be some achievable actions to be taken at the end of the process. I am pleased that the government didn’t bow to the high pressure to run a national inquiry purely for the Asian ‘grooming gangs’ specifically, because abusers come in all shapes, sizes and races.

Galaxy

Louise Casey is very good. I am afraid lots of people did say this wasn't necessary. It obviously was. Thank god is all i can say.

Yes. It is very expensive and so many other calls on money, (which is why the hold ups despite the will to do it) but will be very valuable hopefully educating both public, victims, and authorities as to better caring and practice.

some calling to account: but most of all find ways of spreading awareness to the most vulnerable as how not to get involved?

Good, about time !

I was not persuaded because we’d had so many inquiries but - I trust Casey and Starmer on this. I’m relieved the inquiry will be statutory and people compelled to give evidence. I’m about to write to my mp again about this, I wonder if I could be a witness…..

Louise Casey is very good. I am afraid lots of people did say this wasn't necessary. It obviously was. Thank god is all i can say.