A delayed final report from a review examining allegations concerning child sexual exploitation in Oldham is now due to be published 'before the end of June', Andy Burnham has revealed.
The independent review, commissioned in 2019, is investigating historical safeguarding practices in the borough and is being carried out by Malcolm Newsam, a former commissioner for social care in Rotherham, and Gary Ridgway, a former Detective Superintendent of Cambridgeshire Police.
As reported in the Manchester Evening News, the mayor of Greater Manchester had pledged the review team would reveal their findings at the end of January this year, after review chiefs had previously said they expected the report to come out in December, 2021. The emergence of new 'significant evidence' prompted the delay in publication, but Mr Burnham has now revealed another update.
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He tweeted a letter sent to him by Mr Newsam, who in it says that if further steps go as planned, publication should be 'before the end of June'. The remit of the review is to examine historical allegations relating to child sexual exploitation in Oldham and to consider whether the council and its partners - including Greater Manchester Police - provided an appropriate response to protect children.
The allegations chiefly concern 'shisha bars, taxi companies and children’s homes', according to the terms of reference. Mr Newsam writes: "You will be aware that further significant information was brought forward to the review team following the fair process consultation. The review team has been taking further evidence to consider these issues."
He says additional 'oral evidence' has been heard by the review team and a further Greater Manchester Police officer has been interviewed.
"We have also been supplied with copies of a substantial amount of documentary information and have analysed this prior to finalising our conclusions," Mr Newsam adds. "We have throughout March and April undertaken a full review of all relevant records held by Greater Manchester Police and cross checked these against the evidence we have received from elsewhere. This piece of work is nearing completion."
He references 'outstanding matters', namely requested correspondence from GMP and a request to interview another force officer 'involved in a significant investigation' which hasn't yet been responded to.
Mr Newsam concludes: "I would anticipate if all this proceeds as planned the fair process letters should be dispatched before the end of May which will allow for publication before the end of June."
"I am aware that the delay in publication has caused significant frustration, not least for the survivors, but I believe our final report will be more robust for having considered these additional elements."
In a letter of response, Mr Burnham says he 'had hoped to see it published earlier'. "I fully understand and accept why that has not been possible," he writes. "It is essential that all victim and survivor testimony is heard in full and any further inquiries arising from it are made." The final report is expected to be shared with GMP and Oldham council for accuracy checking and legal scrutiny by counsel.
