Two Bradford District MPs have challenged the leader of Bradford Council to deliver on her claim there will be “no hiding place” for abusers by giving the go-ahead to a full ‘Rotherham Style Inquiry’ into historic child sexual exploitation across the District.
Keighley MP Robbie Moore and Shipley MP Philip Davies have repeatedly called on Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe to hold an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation across the Bradford District, which includes their constituencies, but she has repeatedly tried to block such an inquiry from happening, despite her claim she is ‘tough’ on abusers.
Mr Moore said: “I have repeatedly called on the Leadership team at Bradford Council to instigate a full ‘Rotherham Style’ Inquiry into child sexual exploitation across the Bradford District. This needs to happen so that we can properly understand the scale and complexities of these horrific crimes which continue to haunt our communities, but also to hold those organisations to account who have failed the most vulnerable in society for far too long.
The very fact the Leader of Bradford Council still refuses to instigate such an inquiry speaks volumes. I find it entirely hypocritical that Councillor Hinchcliffe says she wants to be ‘tough’ on abusers but yet has blocked at every step an inquiry from being held’.
Victims and their families deserve nothing else but openness and true accountability. Councillor Hinchliffe will not pull the wool over my eyes with her empty statements.”
Mr Davies said: “These are nothing more than hollow words. The actions of Councillor Hinchcliffe are in complete contradiction to her words. If she really wanted to crack down on the abhorrent behaviours, why is she so against a Rotherham style inquiry into Bradford Council. What is there to hide?
“The victims deserve justice and they deserve transparency. Cliches such as "lessons will be learnt" are not good enough. These people were failed by those who should have been protecting them and we all have a duty to ensure it never happens again.”
“I have been clear in my support for a Rotherham style inquiry and will continue to support any action that ensures no child, young person or vulnerable adult is subject to these heinous crimes. I am absolutely disgusted that the Council would block any such thorough inquiry into previous cases of child sexual exploitation.”
Councillor Hinchcliffe made her comments earlier this week following a briefing from Bradford District Safeguarding Children Partnership which revealed there are 14 live investigations into historic sexual abuse underway in the district. In addition, 37 people are awaiting trial having been charged with historic abuse.
Last year an independent report gave an insight into child sexual exploitation in the Bradford district over a 17-year period between 2002 and 2019. It found that "children suffered abuse no child should have to experience" and problems were reported but "not heard or acted on". In the case of a 12-year-old girl, the report also said authorities tried to attribute some blame on her, claiming she was “putting herself at risk.”
