National inquiry into child sexual exploitation 'more useful' than a Bradford independent review
This week we've been investigating the issue across the county
Leaders across West Yorkshire say a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation is 'more useful' to Bradford than a local one.
It's after a damning review was published this summer looking at the issue across the Bradford District over the last 20 years.
In a recent interview, Keighley's MP, Robbie Moore, said 'it's incredibly frustrating that agencies aren't backing his calls' for an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in the district.
The report published this summer looked at the issue across the Bradford District over the last 20 years.
It was commissioned after the sentencing of 9 men in 2019 to a total of 132 years' and 8 months' imprisonment following the abuse of a child who had been in the care of Bradford Council.
At the time, authorities in Bradford issued an 'apology' saying they had 'failed' to protect the children.
We asked leaders across West Yorkshire if they think an independent inquiry is necessary at this point.
Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for police and crime said:
"Bradford has had 57 reports, if I felt a 58th report was going to save a child, I'd say absolutely lets do it. But the learning, in the main, has been implemented or is still being implemented.
"If the government feels that there is value to having an independent inquiry in Bradford, then the government should pay for that review.
"Because Bradford has experienced millions of pounds of government cuts, and every penny that is taken away from frontline staff practices today, will mean tomorrow we have more victims."
The former children's commissioner for England, Anne Longfield said:
"The independent inquiry's we saw in Rotherham and Rochdale, they made a huge difference, a seismic shift in understanding what was going on, I think we've moved past that. The priority for me now, is to make sure children have the support they need."
Jane Booth, the independent chair of the Bradford partnership board said:
"There's different practices, police forces record these things differently, there's no national standard. It would be useful if the government were to do something to really keep their focus on child sexual exploitation and perhaps prompt them to put more sustained recourses into it."