LAST week’s Prime Minister’s Questions was dominated by the topic of grooming gangs following a Conservative push to launch a new public inquiry into the sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and girls.
An amendment was submitted in Parliament to be made to the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, but was defeated by a margin of 253.
Mr Barber spoke at the annual Better Together Conference yesterday (January 13)–which unites social services, health services, and the police to help better protect children–which had already been scheduled to cover the topic of Operation Bullfinch.
Operation Bullfinch was an investigation launched in 2011 into allegations of historical child sexual abuse, largely in Oxford.
A report following the investigation found that more than 300 children could have been groomed and exploited in the area, and posited that Thames Valley Police had failed to act on numerous calls for help.
At the conference, he explained: “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 led the investigation that resulted in six criminal trials and over 20 convictions for men – mainly of Pakistani heritage – who had taken part in sadistic and organised grooming and sexual abuse of girls.”
He continued: “Thames Valley Police conducted their own review which was followed by the multi-agency Serious Case Review that was led by Maggie Blyth and published in 2015, Thames Valley Police dramatically changed the way it worked, including the introduction the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) with Oxfordshire County Council to co-ordinate concerns for children between agencies.
“The recommendations from that review have been implemented by the police and are now business as usual.”
He said also that Simon Morton, the former Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) for the Bullfinch cases, was: “quite right to point out that criminal gangs and the abuse of children still continues–the difference is that no-one is turning a blind eye to it.
“All agencies, including the police are now working much more closely to actively identify abuse. Thames Valley Police has a dedicated Public Protection and Safeguarding department with more than 450 staff covering a wide number of roles.
He explained: “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.
“Whilst locally I will continue to focus on the action that is needed to protect children now–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.”
He explained that a “lack of candour” was the single failure that links grooming scandals across the country over the last few decades.
“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.
“As Police & Crime Commissioner I am committed to honesty and openness personally and to ensuring the same from the police; that everyone involved in protecting the public acts with candour and integrity.
“Whatever people think about the origins of the recent debate on a public inquiry, the simple fact is that 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 learned 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.
He concluded: “In that same spirit of openness, there is nothing to hide, and potentially something to be gained.
“I believe we often jump to inquiries too quickly in this country, and it is for others to defend their records nationally for either calling for or rejecting particular investigations.
“If, however, any subject is worthy of scrutiny, surely it is the safety of children in our society.”
