GMP police chief apologises to Rochdale grooming gang victims

Chief constable Stephen Watson told the survivors that ‘GMP could, and should, have done much more to protect you and we let you down’. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Three victims of organised grooming gangs in Rochdale have received “substantial” damages and an apology from a police chief who accepted his force had let the women down.

The three women, who have lifelong anonymity, met Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police (GMP), at the force headquarters on Tuesday to be given the apology in person.