Home Affairs Committee hear further evidence on localised grooming
20 November 2012
The Home Affairs Committee takes evidence from the Heads of Public Protection Units at Lancashire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police to examine the differing methods used to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation.
This will then be followed by a panel of two former senior officers of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council. Following the evidence session with the current and former Chief Executive of Rochdale Council, the Home Affairs Committee will be taking evidence on the breakdown in communication between frontline and senior staff at the Council.
Witnesses
At 2.45pm
- Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley, Lancashire Constabulary
- Detective Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, Greater Manchester Police
At 3.15pm
- Cheryl Eastwood, former Director of Children’s Services, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
- Steve Garner, former Director of Targeted Children’s Services, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Committee Chair Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP said:
"Roger Ellis, the former Chief Executive of Rochdale Council, told the Committee last week that he knew nothing about the sexual exploitation of children in Rochdale - some of whom were looked after by the local authority - until charges were brought.
We will be asking those responsible for children’s services at the time about who knew what, and when and why no action was taken for so many years.
We will also be looking at the reasons for the failure of multi-agency working to protect vulnerable children and what can be done in the future to improve co-operation between the police, local authorities and other agencies responsible for child protection."