A report published about Operation Span and non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale has revealed that girls were exposed to paedophile grooming gangs for years due to failures by senior police and council officials, covering the period from 2004 to 2013.
The review highlights multiple unsuccessful investigations by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and underscores the apparent indifference of local authorities to the plight of numerous youngsters identified as potential victims of Asian men. . The report also identifies 96 men still considered a potential risk to children, but notes this is only a portion of those involved in the abuse.
GMP has issued an apology and emphasised that such cases are now handled differently. Chief Constable Stephen Watson expressed profound regret over the failure and issued an apology to the victims let down by Greater Manchester Police. He said: “One of the primary responsibilities of the police is to protect the vulnerable from cruel and the predatory and, in this regard, we failed you.
“GMP failed to heed the voices of those who were speaking on behalf of victims and who were pointing to the inadequacy of the organisational response.”
In response to the report, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This report is hard to read. It gives a detailed and distressing account of how many young people were so seriously failed. That said, it fulfils the purpose of why I set up this review in the first place. It is only by facing up fully and unflinchingly to what happened that we can be sure of bringing the whole system culture change needed when it comes to protecting children from abuse.”
He also added that, “I have asked Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Council to ensure that every possible action is taken to follow up any leads arising from this report and to pursue any potential perpetrators.”
The mayor has additionally called for disciplinary action against police officers, council officials, and some prosecutors who "failed in their duties", while praising whistleblowers, including health worker Sara Rowbotham and former GMP detective Maggie Oliver, for raising concerns despite facing criticism from authorities. The report, focusing on 111 cases in Rochdale from 2004 to 2013, reveals compelling evidence of widespread organised sexual exploitation of children, failure by statutory agencies to respond appropriately, and serious deficiencies in protecting the children involved.
The report concludes that the threat of child sexual exploitation was not addressed between 2004 and 2007, and the issue was a low priority and under-resourced by GMP. The concerns raised by Rowbotham and Oliver were substantiated.
