As the arguments continue over the denied requests for a public inquiry into the Oldham Child Grooming gangs, former GMP detective Maggie Oliver who resigned from the force over the Rochdale grooming inquiry has waded into the argument
Writing on X after American billionaire Elon Musk accused Kier Starmer of his failure to tackle the grooming gangs while he was Director of Public Prosecutions, she said that inquiries into what happened have led ‘absolutely nowhere’ and ‘wasted’ millions of pounds, adding that those leading them ‘have always wanted to cover up the truth’.
Oliver said that Kier Starmer was as guilty over his stance in his former job
Keir Starmer, as the former DPP, is perhaps as guilty as anyone I know in where we find ourselves today,’ she said. ‘We `all know what’s going on, but I don’t trust a single one of those who to date have been entrusted with keeping our children safe and prosecuting serial rapists. They’ve failed. Repeatedly. Knowingly. Criminally.’
She also told GB news yesterday that victims have been failed by ‘governments who want to cover up the fact that we have a problem in this country!’
And she added that she firmly believes that we need totally independent people who will ensure it’s not just another attempt to delay and hide the truth. Radical change and overhaul of all our public bodies.
The controversy began earlier this week when Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips’ decision to block a public inquiry into the Oldham grooming gangs was made public
Elon Musk was among a number of people who attacked the decision along with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch
Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah issued a statement on Thursday in which she promised an independent inquiry
“Child sexual exploitation is a vile form of child abuse, and the failings of the past are shameful. We have a duty not to repeat them and this inquiry will help strengthen local safeguarding and – most importantly – protect Oldham’s children.”
The independent inquiry will build on the findings of the Greater Manchester inquiry into non-recent safeguarding issues in
Oldham which was published in 2022 by the Mayor’s office and which we fully supported at Oldham Council.”
She added:
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.
