Cllr Caroline Firth (Labour , Keighley East) writes:
I welcome that the national independent inquiry into grooming gangs will include the district, including Keighley. Child sexual exploitation is a vile, disgusting, abhorrent crime that leaves lasting effects on victims and survivors.
The Labour and Conservative groups on the council both brought motions to our full council meeting last July backing Bradford district’s participation in the national inquiry – the final motion was agreed and supported by all councillors across all parties. The district is united in our agreement that the inquiry will have our full political support. Nothing will be hidden.
Now it is confirmed that Bradford district will be part of the inquiry, it is victims and survivors who must be put at the centre throughout the process. Some will want to participate, some will not. We must give them space and support to make sure that they are not re-traumatised by the inquiry process.
When leading the Council, Bradford Labour wrote to both the Home Secretary making it clear that Bradford Council was willing to participate. We also asked for an early meeting with the commissioner once they were appointed. We then sent the letter again to the new Home Secretary reinforcing the council’s willingness to participate and to the Chair once they were appointed. We know other politicians across other parties have also written to the Home Secretary about the issue.
Bradford Council sent the previous independent investigations, scrutiny reports and safeguarding reviews on this subject in their entirety to the Home Office and referred itself to – then willingly participated in – the Casey National Audit.
The new administration has also confirmed it is ready and willing to play its part in any inquiry. The district has nothing to hide.