Work is 'already underway on survivor-led inquiry in Oldham'

Work is underway to launch a ‘survivor-led, Telford-style’ inquiry into the ‘horrific failings’ in responding to grooming gangs in Oldham, the Manchester Evening News understands.

Conversations have been taking place between Oldham and Telford town halls - and a group of survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE) - for several months to inform the scope of a new review, source say.

The government yesterday (Wednesday, January 16) announced a £5m funding package to support up to five reviews into historic CSE cases, including one in Oldham.

The decision came after the Home Office decided to reject Oldham’s request for a government-led inquiry, sparking a huge public backlash.

Oldham council leader Arooj Shah has welcomed the support, alongside other measures announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, including a 'rapid audit' to look at data on the ethnicity of grooming gang victims and perpetrators.

Ms Cooper also announced the involvement of Tom Crowther KC, who led the Telford Review, widely considered the most effective investigation into local authority failings towards child victims of sexual abuse in the UK.

While the announcement appears to be a turning point in the national conversation, the independent survivors commission has already been working to ‘inform the council’s approach’ and ‘determine the terms of reference’ for a future review since the summer of 2024.

Council staff are also consulting with members of the Telford Review, with Oldham officers due to visit the Shropshire town next week.

Independent councillor Marc Hince, who seconded a motion and is involved in preparations, said: “We’re pleased the government is backing us on this. But we don’t take any credit for this, it’s the survivors who