Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner backs calls for grooming gang inquiry
Matthew Barber says, “there is nothing to hide, and potentially something to be gained”
Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner is backing calls for a national public inquiry into grooming gangs.
Matthew Barber has been speaking at the Better Together Conference, bringing social services, health and the police together to better protect children.
“Failed hundreds of young girls in Oxford”
The subject of today’s conference is the investigation into an Oxford-based grooming gang between 2004 and 2012, known as Operation Bullfinch.
The investigation looked into allegations of historical sexual abuse, leading to 24 convictions.
Mr Barber said: “In the years that led up to Operation Bullfinch, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council and other agencies failed hundreds of young girls in Oxford.
“You will find no-one in Oxfordshire who can defend the inaction of previous years to address the vile abuse that ruined so many lives.”
Thames Valley Police conducted their own review which was followed by the multi-agency Serious Case Review.
This included the introduction the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) with Oxfordshire County Council to co-ordinate concerns for children between agencies.
Mr Barber said: “The recommendations from that review have been implemented by the police and are now business as usual.”
He added: “Whether it is organised gangs of offenders, or lone individuals, child abuse is one of the most horrific crimes that we see in our society.
“Dealing with abuse and exploitation is part of my Police & Crime Plan, and safeguarding children is at the forefront of the work the police do. This can be seen from the completely different approach that is now taken to reports of missing children, many now considered potential victims.
“The fight against child abuse will continue, and perpetrators from whatever background should know that Thames Valley Police will pursue any offender without fear or favour, whatever their ethnicity or status in society.
‘Valuable contribution to national inquiry’
At the conference, Mr Barber said: “The experience from the failings of the past undoubtedly means that Thames Valley Police would be able to make a valuable contribution to any national inquiry.
“The single failing that links all the grooming scandals across the country over the last few decades has been a lack of candour. Whether that was a failure to confront the background of the perpetrators or a failure to see young girls as victims, what was lacking was honesty and clarity.
“That lack of openness and honesty directly harmed victims. It did here in Thames Valley, and it did elsewhere in the country. It also damages public confidence in the police and the other agencies put in place to protect the public.
He added: “A failure to conduct an inquiry at this stage, and the Government’s resistance to one so far, will risk fuelling mistrust in public bodies.
“A review was conducted locally a decade ago. Lessons have been learnt and whilst we will sadly never prevent every case of abuse, children are better protected now as a result.
“Even if a national inquiry adds nothing new to how the police and councils operate in Thames Valley, we should not be fearful of one.
“There is nothing to hide, and potentially something to be gained.”
Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says the government would grant one if victims’ groups called for it.
Last Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government would begin to implement Professor Alexis Jay's call for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse, with further details expected to be set out in the coming weeks.