Three women, Jane, Amelia, and Sarah, have courageously spoken out about their harrowing experiences of historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham. Their stories, marked by abuse and neglect, highlight the urgent need for justice and accountability. Despite the devastating impact on their lives, the government has resisted calls for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, citing the implementation of recommendations from a previous report. Meanwhile, Oldham Council has launched its own inquiry into these heinous crimes, led by specialist investigators.
Jane was just 12 when she moved to Oldham and fell victim to a British-Pakistani grooming gang. Over six years, she endured unimaginable abuse and trafficking. Jane struggles to recall the exact number of men involved in her abuse but vividly remembers a specific incident where she was plied with alcohol and drugs, unable to move, as a group of men repeatedly assaulted her.
"There was one specific incident when I was plied with alcohol, plied with drugs, and I could not move. There were a group of men coming in and out of the room, I think there must have been four or five, basically raping me" – Jane
Amelia shares a similar story of trafficking and abuse at a young age. She describes grooming's profound impact on her life, emphasizing the emotional and psychological scars that remain.
"I don't even class myself as a human being anymore. I'm damaged goods, I'm broken." – Amelia
Both Jane and Amelia urge Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to meet with them and hear their stories firsthand. They call for action that prioritizes victims' needs over political agendas.
"This isn't for anyone's political gain. This is about real human beings." – Amelia
Sarah's story adds another layer to this tragic narrative. Her 13-year-old son reported being sexually abused while in care in Oldham during the 2000s. The abuse left a profound impact on him, changing him irrevocably.
"It totally destroyed him. He just wasn't the child he was to start with. He was a shadow of his former self." – Sarah
Sadly, Sarah's son passed away more than a decade after reporting the abuse to the police. She desperately seeks justice for him and all victims.
"I feel like I let him down in his life and I don't think it's right I don't get justice for him just because he's not here. He is just as important as every other victim." – Sarah
Despite these heart-wrenching accounts, the government remains firm in its decision not to launch another national inquiry. Instead, they reference the ongoing implementation of recommendations from Prof Alexis Jay's 2022 report. A government spokesperson stated their commitment to protecting victims and pursuing offenders.
"we absolutely recognise the lifelong impact of child sexual exploitation, which is why we are so committed to protecting victims and pursuing offenders. This is a tragic example that demonstrates the devastating trauma that comes with such horrific abuse." – Steph Parker
Oldham Council has taken matters into its own hands by initiating a local inquiry, promising survivors a central role in its development.
"we're working closely with survivors and survivors' families to ensure they don't just have a voice, but will have a central role in developing this inquiry. We expect terms of reference to be agreed in the coming months" – Arooj Shah
Greater Manchester Police is also conducting several non-recent child sexual exploitation investigations, resulting in over 100 arrests. These efforts follow an independent review into sex abuse in Oldham in 2022, which found that victims had been failed by both the council and Greater Manchester Police.
Sarah expressed her hope for a government-led inquiry but acknowledges the potential effectiveness of a locally led one if appropriately funded.
Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, assured that the new local independent inquiry would build upon the findings of the Greater Manchester review. Ministers rejected requests for a government-led inquiry, asserting that Oldham Council should lead it.
The stories of Jane, Amelia, and Sarah underscore the pervasive nature of grooming and exploitation across different communities. Amelia emphasizes that race or nationality should not overshadow the core issue: safeguarding children.
"It is not anything to do with nationality or race" – Amelia
Their accounts serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change and comprehensive support for survivors.
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