Protesters demand talks with mayor over grooming gangs

Protesters have demanded to speak to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham at a demonstration over grooming gangs and child sex abuse cases in the region.

A group of local campaigners staged a peaceful march through Manchester city centre on Monday to call for justice for the victims of grooming gangs and for a statutory inquiry into cases of alleged abuse.

Some of the group, which included abuse survivors, tried to enter Burnham’s headquarters on Oxford Street asking to speak to the mayor, but were unsuccessful.

A spokesman for the mayor said he had “voiced support for further giving voice to victims of child sexual exploitation in Oldham and elsewhere, with national government support”.

Abuse survivors from Oldham and Rochdale attended the march, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They said they were “sick of politicians speaking to politicians” and wanted Burnham and the region’s police commissioner to hear directly from those affected.

The spokesman for the mayor’s team said: “We are aware of a protest that took place in Manchester City Centre on Monday.”

He added Mr Burnham had set up an independent review into child sexual exploitation in 2017 into allegations from Manchester, Rochdale and Oldham, which had uncovered issues of “significant” concern.

The mayor also supported the creation of a Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigation Team by Greater Manchester Police in 2021, a move which has “brought many more people to justice”, the spokesman said.

Amelia, a survivor who changed her name to protect her right to anonymity, said: “Nobody could come down and speak to us. It felt like an insult.

“It would’ve been nice for the Manchester mayor, the man who represents our city, and the police commissioner to see how many ladies have joined together on this subject.

“You’ve got mums, grandmas, survivors crying at these protests because of the devastation this issue has brought to our lives.”

The Million Women march was held days after Oldham Council voted to request a statutory inquiry into its handling of grooming gangs.

It comes despite the Home Office previously turning down the request and while the local authority has started preparing its own local review.

Supporters of a statutory inquiry have said it is more effective as witnesses can be compelled to give evidence.