Rotherham CSE campaigner 'pleased' with the findings in Operation Linden

We've been speaking to Sammy Woodhouse about yesterday's Independent Office for Police Conduct report

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 24th Nov 2021

A Rotherham CSE campaigner insists she's 'pleased' with what came out of Operation Linden yesterday.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct published their latest report on child sexual exploitation in the town on Tuesday.

Sammy Woodhouse-who was groomed herself as a teenager-feels progress has been made since then, but reckons it'll take a long time to fully stamp out:

"It's really good that the IOPC have highlighted the fact that children have been and are still are being criminalised when they're exploited.

"It affects survivors in so many different ways. Some of these offences stay on record for the rest of your life. It can affect you when you're applying for a job.

"Even when parents want to go on a school trip, they may not be allowed to because of their old criminal convictions from this period of time.

"Child sexual exploitation is still a massive, massive problem for Rotherham. It's not a thing of the past, and I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon, but this report is a step in the right direction at least."

A total of 12 national and local recommendations have been made by the IOPC to help improve the treatment of those who come forward to report abuse.

You can view the report on the link below:

https://policeconduct.gov.uk/news/survivors-rotherham-child-sexual-abuse-must-be-heard-if-police-are-learn-past

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