Parents Against Grooming protest to take place outside Rochdale Town Hall

Parents Against Grooming

Parents Against Grooming UK is holding a protest outside Rochdale Town Hall at 1.00pm on Wednesday 7 June, calling for a ‘Hillsborough-style’ inquiry into the town’s sex grooming scandal.

William Howarth, co-founder of the group, said: “This is our opportunity for us mums, dads, nans, granddads, brothers and sisters and for families and victims of these heinous crimes to speak out and demand a full-scale inquiry with unlimited resources, and accountability for those who failed our town and the ones who covered for them.”

In 2013, the Coffey Inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) was commissioned by Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner at the time, Tony Lloyd, to see what had changed since the scandal and what more needed to be done.

The report, led by Ann Coffey MP, found CSE ‘is a real and ongoing problem that has become a new social norm’.

Ms Coffey recommended a radical new approach to tackling CSE to be led by young people, recognising that the police, justice system and children’s services alone cannot succeed in protecting children, especially at a time of deep spending cuts.

In 2015, Greater Manchester Police admitted ‘a complete lack of understanding', of CSE in Rochdale and a 'failure to recognise the scale of abuse', and acknowledged ‘victims were let down’.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/94711/police-admit-failing-child-sex-victims-in-rochdale-but-no-officers-will-be-disciplined

The conduct of 13 officers between 2008 and 2010 was examined and seven were served misconduct notices but no police officer was disciplined over the failure to tackle the sexual abuse. One detective inspector was found to have warranted disciplinary action but he retired. The other six officers were given 'words of advice' and 'offered further training'.

Parents Against Grooming UK say believe the police and the council have not disclosed everything they know.

Mr Howarth added: "Protesters are welcome to make their own signs and posters, but please refrain from any racial or religious comments.

“No political banners for or against any party.”