‘Finally!’: Oldham to demand public inquiry into ‘scourge’ that has ‘hung over borough for far too long’
Oldham Council has unanimously voted to demand a statutory public inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE), both historic and current, following an extraordinary meeting. The inquiry aims to address systemic failures and ensure victims' voices are central.
Oldham Council has voted unanimously to demand a statutory public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in the borough, escalating their investigation from a local review to a judge-backed examination with full legal powers to compel evidence from government institutions.
The extraordinary council meeting on February 12 saw councillors approve the motion after a chaotic debate that left members confused about what they were voting on, prompting laughter from the public gallery and several walkouts. A 30-minute adjournment was required to clarify a “hybrid” version combining multiple amendments.
Councillor Lewis Quigg, who proposed the motion, told the chamber: “This national public inquiry is to right an incredible wrong. It’s about time that the lid is lifted on this disaster, this national scandal of children who have been abused in some of the most evil acts.”
The vote comes just three months after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the council’s previous request for a government-led review, sparking widespread public criticism. Councillor David Arnott said the issue had “hung over this borough for far too long” and acknowledged that the council had “failed many times to stop horrific abuses continuing for years.”
The amended motion removed language that specifically singled out men of Pakistani heritage following concerns raised by Liberal Democrat Councillor Helen Bishop, who argued the narrow focus could obscure predators from other communities. Councillor Abdul Wahid of the Oldham Group supported the change, stating: “Even one predator in our community is one too many” while emphasizing that “this is not just about one community” as child sexual exploitation “has been carried out by organised criminals of different backgrounds.”
The final motion includes commitments to center victims’ voices in any inquiry and calls upon the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to support demands for statutory powers. The vote passed to applause from the public gallery, with some attendees exclaiming “Finally!”
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