Rochdale Council leader apologises after “serious failings” by local authority and police highlighted in Rochdale CSE report
Date published: 15 January 2024
Councillor Neil Emmott speaking at the press conference to release the findings of the review into Operation Span and the investigation of non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale
An apology has been issued by Neil Emmott, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, after a review published today found damning evidence that as many as 48 children in Rochdale were “seriously failed” in being protected from sexual exploitation between 2004 and 2012.
Published today (Monday 15 January), “The review into Operation Span and the investigation of non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale” found that both the council and Greater Manchester Police “seriously failed” the children who were groomed and sexually exploited in the borough from 2004 to 2013.
The Rochdale review focused on the sexual exploitation of children in Rochdale between 2004 and 2012, specifically considering the allegations set out by both sexual health worker Sara Rowbotham and former GMP detective constable Maggie Oliver, who blew the whistle on the 2012 grooming scandal.
The report details how the emerging threat of child sexual exploitation was not addressed between 2004 and 2007, noting the multiple failed investigations by police and lack of response from Rochdale Borough Council to the many girls, who were mainly white and of a poor background, who all identified as potential victims of abuse by Asian men.
After considering the cases of 111 children in the Rochdale borough, the authors found there “was a significant probability that 74 of these children were being sexually exploited at that time, and in 48 of those cases, there were serious failures to protect the child.”
The review adds concerns about CSE had been “consistently raised” with both the police and children’s social care at the highest level by Sara Rowbotham and her colleagues, noting “Senior and middle managers across both organisations were aware of this but they failed to act. These children were being subjected to significant harm and the statutory agencies let them down, because they found it just too difficult a problem to address.”
The report’s authors also said they were “struck by the lack of intervention by both the police and children’s social care when it was known that older adult males were having sexual relations with children who were said to be ‘consenting’.”
The report concluded that Sara “was unfairly criticised by the two serious case reviews for not having appropriately referred children at risk of exploitation” and that her and her colleagues were “lone voices in raising concerns about the sexual exploitation and abuse of these children” for several years.
Councillor Neil Emmott, who became leader of Rochdale Borough Council in 2021, has apologised on behalf of the council before pledging that their efforts to “ensure these awful failures don’t happen again and that children will be protected.”
He said: “We are deeply sorry that the people who were at Rochdale Council during the period 2004 to 2013 did not recognise nor acknowledge the very serious failures that affected the lives of children in our borough and failed to take the necessary action.
“I want to reassure the public that those responsible are gone and long gone. No amount of contrition or apology can ever repair the awful damage that was done to the lives of these survivors.”
Mr Emmott continued: “As the current leader of Rochdale Council I want to repeat the apology we have made previously but also to reassure the public that far more rigorous practices are in place today to protect our children.
“Rochdale was already investigating these historical cases when the mayor’s review began in 2017 and a number are still ongoing and we want to ensure the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice. We will be ever vigilant in our efforts to ensure these awful failures don’t happen again and that children will be protected.
“I want to thank the Mayor Andy Burnham for commissioning this report and Malcolm Newsam and his team for investigating and compiling the report. The contributions of whistleblowers like Sara Rowbotham and Maggie Oliver also deserve full recognition.
“It was thanks to Maggie that many of the victims gained the confidence to come forward and give evidence against the criminals who perpetrated those dreadful crimes. Maggie continues her work to this day to support survivors and victims of sexual exploitation through her foundation.
“I want to pay special tribute to Sara Rowbotham and her colleagues who worked in the crisis intervention team. They fought like tigers to protect vulnerable children whilst so many others turned their backs on them, ignored them, and didn’t take their referrals of child sexual exploitation seriously - 181 referrals. Sara stands out as a beacon of integrity during that awful period, and I for one will never accept nor countenance any criticism of her actions.
“Sara and her colleagues at the crisis intervention team were told by so-called professionals that those abused children had made ‘a lifestyle choice’. I want to say to you today those kind of words, that kind of language used by so-called professionals to describe vulnerable, abused and traumatised children frankly makes me feel both physically sick and extremely irate in equal measure.
“I think it's only right to mention today that there was one Rochdale councillor who raised the issue of child sexual exploitation during that terrible period and that was Sara Rowbotham’s mum, the late councillor Maureen Rowbotham. Maureen raised the issue with the appropriate council officers but like Sara and her team, Maureen was ignored and not taken seriously.
“As the current leader of Rochdale Council, I want to repeat the apology we have made previously but also to reassure the public that far more rigorous practices are in place today to protect our children. Rochdale has overhauled and invested heavily in our services, and we have shared our learning with other councils from across the United Kingdom including most recently delegations from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. We have educated schools, taxi drivers, off-licences, takeaways, barbers, licenced premises and local residents and in particular those involved in the nighttime economy about the signs of child sexual exploitation and what to do about it.
“Rochdale has contributed to several other reviews and helped to strengthen services across the region and the rest of the country.
“Every Ofsted inspection since 2014 has concluded that Rochdale responds to reports of child sexual exploitation effectively through our dedicated multi-agency Sunrise Team. We have offered and continue to offer support to those survivors of child sexual exploitation in Rochdale. In 2021, the Sunrise Team won the public sector children’s team award at the Children and Young People Now annual awards.
“The team has been instrumental in trying to rebuild public confidence in child protection services in our borough. But please be aware that the team is not complacent and that it is constantly looking for ways to improve and enhance the protection of children.
“We will be ever vigilant in our efforts to ensure these awful failures don’t happen again and that children will be protected. So, finally, once more, I would like to apologise on behalf of Rochdale Council to the survivors of those terrible abusive crimes that took place from 2004 to 2013, and also to apologise to those dedicated individuals who were ignored and not taken seriously when they had the courage to raise the alarm.”
Since early 2012, Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Council have overhauled the way they prevent and respond to child sexual exploitation to ensure that victims and survivors are cared for and receive the expected level of service.
Whilst criminal justice outcomes are one aim of investigations and operations, through the Complex Safeguarding Hub also known as The Sunrise Team which co-locates police with local authority and health service colleagues, the partnership has refined the focus on the safeguarding of vulnerable young people and the prevention and reduction of exploitation.
The team also run proactive operations to educate communities, identify potential victims and offenders, and close gateways to child sexual exploitation.
For example, under Operation Cobalt, the team visits hotels and taxi companies to educate staff on the signs of child sexual exploitation and how to report concerns to GMP or Rochdale Council.
Under Operation Vigilant, the team responds to intelligence gathered from key sources within communities to identify potential victims and offenders to enable early intervention. In 2023, the team conducted seven days of action resulting in the seizure of 4,733 illegal vapes – which intelligence suggests are sometimes being used to groom vulnerable young people.
Just last year, an Ofsted report regarding Rochdale Council - including the Complex Safeguarding Hub - was published and confirmed that ‘children at risk receive an effective response from the dedicated Sunrise team’.
When crimes are identified or reported, the partnership designs and implements bespoke care plans to ensure victims and survivors are offered specialist support from the outset.
Engagement is led by trained staff, who have experience of building rapport with people abused in childhood.
At the right time, suspect-focused and evidence-based investigations – like operations Doublet, Routh, and Lytton – then progress, with the support of the force’s Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team, to ensure they are reflective of the best practice recognised by The Hydrant Programme and National Association of People Abused in Childhood.
Today’s report, the result of a six-year-investigation, is part three of the overall review into the effectiveness of multi-agency responses to CSE commissioned by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, following the airing of the 2017 BBC documentary, The Betrayed Girls, about child sexual exploitation in the region.
The review – split into four parts – is being led by child protection specialist, Malcolm Newsam CBE and former senior police officer, Gary Ridgway. The first considered Operation Augusta and the premature death of 15-year-old Victoria Agoglia. The second covered historic child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
The final report will consider current practice across Greater Manchester to address the risk of child sexual exploitation, and an analysis of the current processes in place under Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub. It will also look at the GMP Operations to tackle CSE that have happened more recently: Operation Green Jacket, Operation Bernice, Operation Sherwood and Operation Exmoor.
Now that the part three report has been published, the review team can focus on completing part four, which is expected to be ready for publication by the summer.
Help and support
If you suspect someone of committing CSE or believe someone you know may be a victim, you can report it to GMP via LiveChat at gmp.police.uk or by calling 101. In an emergency, dial 999.
The public can contact Rochdale Borough Council with any concerns or questions on 0300 303 0323, CSEreview@rochdale.gov.uk, or find information at www.rochdale.gov.uk/ChildProtection.
Greater Manchester Victims’ Services provides support for all victims of reported and unreported crime in Greater Manchester. The service is available weekdays from 8am to 8pm and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm via phone: 0800 876 6155 or email: GMVictims@catch22.org.uk.
Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk
We Are Survivors provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.
If you are struggling to cope or having suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123.
The Maggie Oliver Foundation provides emotional support and legal advocacy to survivors and those at risk of child sexual exploitation - The Maggie Oliver Foundation - Helping Survivors of Abuse.
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