The leader of Oldham Council, Councillor Arooj Shah, has welcomed the government’s announcement on child sexual exploitation, including support for an independent review of child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
Councillor Shah said: “We welcome this announcement and indeed any action that the government takes to establish genuinely survivor-led inquiries into historical sexual abuse.
“Survivors must be at the heart of any inquiry into these horrendous failings. Oldham’s survivors can be confident that by involving someone of the stature of Tom Crowther KC they will have a voice and a stake in our inquiry.
“As we work with government on the details of this plan, we will also make sure that survivors are involved every step of the way.
“I’m proud that Oldham will help shape future survivor-led inquiries across the country. It is a small chink of light and hope from this dark era of our borough and our country.
“I am also glad that the government is asking Baroness Casey to look at the drivers of this specific type of abuse as part of her review.
“Child sexual abuse is perpetrated by people of all races and religions, and inflicted on people of all races and religions. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask questions about any drivers of this very specific type of offending. We need to do more to understand why this particular pattern of abuse is more prevalent among some groups of men.
“That’s not racism – it’s common sense.
“It’s not religion or race that defines these crimes, it’s the crimes that define these men. There is no corner in any part of our society for these people – the only place they belong is in prison after facing the full force of justice.”
