Local MPs, Councillors and the West Yorkshire Mayor have been urged to formally support calls for a grooming gangs inquiry in the Bradford District in what is described as a ‘moment of truth’ for the area.
A joint letter, signed by local survivor Fiona Goddard, leading child abuse solicitor David Greenwood, and Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has been sent to all 90 Bradford District councillors, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, the Deputy Mayor and every MP representing the district.
Local leaders have been asked to add their name to the letter before it is sent to the Home Secretary and incoming chair of the national inquiry into grooming gangs to demonstrate public will for the inquiry.
The letter states: “We write to you united and urge you to launch this inquiry to both hold local institutions accountable and help deliver justice for survivors who have waited too long to be heard.”
Local victim Fiona Goddard says she hopes the District’s elected leaders will “show overwhelming support”, with MP Robbie Moore adding that the District is currently at a ‘tipping point’.
In June, ten days before the Baroness Casey Audit, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said said was "not going to call for an inquiry" into grooming gangs in the area. Bradford Safeguarding Partnership, which includes the West Yorkshire Police and Council leaders, also rejected local MP Robbie Moore’s calls for an inquiry back in January.
Speaking in the House of Commons this month, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips confirmed the government is in the “final stages” of appointing a chair for the inquiry.
Once appointed, the chair and an inquiry commission will decide the first local areas for investigation.
It comes after Baroness Casey, whose audit recommended a “series of targeted local investigations”, stated she would be “surprised” if Bradford was not included in the process.
Fiona Goddard said: “Many grooming gang cases across the UK have links to Bradford, with children trafficked here from across the country. So by not having this area as a main focus in the national inquiry, we don’t just fail the victims here but survivors of grooming across the country. I ask our local councillors and MP’s to think about all those people who have already been massively failed and show overwhelming support for these calls.”
Robbie Moore MP added: “In places like Rotherham, Telford and Oldham, it was survivor voices and cross-party pressure, including from elected officials who initially opposed an inquiry, that ultimately tipped the balance. We ask all elected officials to sign this letter and help deliver justice for those failed by all levels of the British state for far too long."
David Greenwood said: “Having worked for many survivors of child sexual exploitation in Bradford, I know the harm done to the girls (now women) involved. They deserve to know action is being taken. Unless we tackle exploitation together, Bradford’s name will be indelibly stained not only due by the abuse, but by the unwillingness of its council to face up to the extent of the problem, past failings and what’s needed for the future.”
