I would like to respond to @MayorofGM Andy Burnham’s statement below following the @Channel4 documentary Groomed: A National Scandal which aired on Wednesday.
Firstly, even though you are still trying to make more ‘political capital’ out of Victoria’s death at the hands of one of her abuser’s, and the fact that you tried to demonstrate just how much you supported Victoria’s grandma and would get justice for her by a new inquest in 2020. Over 5 YEARS LATER this has STILL not happened.
Furthermore, you and your team and ACC Sarah Jackson of @gmpolice said when challenged that there was ‘wrap around care’ for grandma Joan Agoglia, now in her 80s and very frail and almost totally blind, I subsequently received a phone call asking ME for her address and phone number! If she had ‘wrap around care’, how could that happen if 5 years later you still didn’t know her address or phone number. That’s the question. I visit Joan, and she hasn’t a clue what’s happening. It seems to me you are just waiting for Joan to pass away and then this inquest will never happen. It was a total cover up the first time and I see nothing to reassure me this is any different.
Secondly, HMICFRS were brought in last year because the original review team resigned because they were being blocked from every angle from talking to victims who had not only been failed in the original enquiries in 2005 and 2011/12, but as the documentary showed are being failed yet again by Op Greenjacket. 6 YEARS they have being left dangling, and we have STILL not seen anyone charged, and survivors who were totally willing to cooperate are further traumatised and some have been ‘dropped’ yet again! As was I after one hostile meeting with the SIO. And I am a professional witness to what happened in relation to the police officers identified by Steph!! Shocking!
The original review team knew exactly which dark corners to look in as they had spent 6 YEARS analysing the HOLMES System exposing Rochdale and Augusta failures, and itmis totally scandalous that they haven’t been included in this new ‘enquiry’ which I believe will be another whitewash as was the @IICSAVSCP into ‘organised networks’, ie Grooming gangs! This isn’t the ‘Duty of Candour’ you frequently talk about Andy. It’s political manoeuvring,
I’ve seen it all over the past 13 years and political point scoring will not solve this national scandal. Criminal and private prosecutions for those in high places who deliberately turned away is the only way to bring systemic change in my opinion. So that those in office today will never again fail to protect children they KNOW are being raped because they see them as worthless, and also don’t want to rock the ‘multi cultural boat’ nor invest ‘resources’ into these cases.
Criminal, inhumane, neglectful and quite honestly WRONG!
Please support our #TheyKnew campaign and donate, however little, so we can hold those at the top legally to account. It’s the only way. And it has to be a private prosecution because the @CPSUK will never prosecute those who they’d rather protect I’m afraid. It’s the junior officers at the bottom of the chain who will be occasional scalps, and it’s not their fault!!
Action not words and empty promises is what is needed. And posts like yours here are now seen right through by the public who have seen through the propaganda and are demanding action. And it won’t go away this time I’m afraid Andy.
Acknowledging more needs to be done just isn’t enough. You are Police and Crime Commissioner and it is your DUTY to ensure it is!