Mayor Andy Burnham responds to Betrayed Girls documentary about Rochdale grooming scandal

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Mayor Andy Burnham has requested the issues raised in the harrowing BBC documentary about the grooming scandal, ‘The Betrayed Girls’, be looked at to ‘ensure changes made have brought about necessary improvements’.

The documentary was commissioned following the acclaimed drama, ‘Three Girls’, a three-part series based on the true stories of victims of the sexual abuse and grooming scandal that emerged in Rochdale five years ago.

The 90-minute documentary featured accounts from victims, some of whom were speaking out for the first time, and interviews with individuals speaking out on behalf of the girls, including manager of the Rochdale Crisis Intervention Team Sara Rowbotham, former Detective Constable Maggie Oliver and Chief Prosecutor, Nazir Afzal.

Following the airing of the documentary, Mr Burnham issued a statement in response.

He said: “Sexual exploitation and abuse of children is utterly abhorrent and, in my view, must always face the full force of the law.

“As Mayor, I want a culture of zero tolerance towards exploitation and abuse, where we are constantly challenging ourselves to improve how we identify those at risk, investigate reports and prosecute those responsible. The victims deserve nothing less.

“Significant work has been done across the partners during the last few years, particularly in Rochdale, where services are now recognised as representing some of the best practice nationally.

“The broadcast on Monday night raised a number of historical issues. I know that they have already been reviews and investigations in the past but I want to be able to assure myself and, by extension, the public of Greater Manchester that everything possible has been done to protect children today and in the future and prevent any repeat. That is why I have asked Baroness Beverly Hughes, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to look at the issues raised in the programme, to ensure that the changes made have brought about the necessary improvements and report back to me with her findings.”

In May 2012, nine men of Pakistani and Afghan origin were found guilty of child sex charges after targeting vulnerable girls in Rochdale and Heywood.

All were convicted and charged at Liverpool Crown Court with offences including rape and sexual assault, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and trafficking a child within the UK. They were all ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and received sentences ranging between four and 19 years in prison.