Rochdale grooming: Community 'ripped apart' by abuse scandal

Rochdale councillor Andy Kelly has called for police to step up efforts to prosecute abusers

Communities have been "ripped apart" by the failures of local authorities and police to tackle child grooming gangs in Rochdale, a councillor has said.

A report found the widespread abuse of young girls by Asian men in the town between 2003 and 2012 was not properly investigated and victims were ignored.

Andy Kelly, the Liberal Democrat group leader at Rochdale Council, said the findings were "heartbreaking".

Rochdale was again "in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons", he added.

The report found young girls were abused by a network of Asian men, while 96 people who pose a potential risk to children remain at large, with most having not been prosecuted.

Deputy mayor of Greater Manchester Kate Green said suspects were being "actively monitored" by police, but added the investigations were "complex".

"Why aren't we arresting them and charging them?", Mr Kelly asked in an interview with BBC Radio Manchester.

"There is not point in pussyfooting around it, we need to get this sorted out."

'Gut-wrenching'

The councillor said the failings exposed in the report had led to a "a real community cohesion issue".

"If you speak to people in the Asian community they feel a sense of partly shame, but partly a kind of a gut-wrenching feeling that they as a community are being blamed for what's going on," he said.

"The abusers in this case are Asian, but not everyone who's Asian is an abuser."

Many feel local authorities had still not done enough to protect vulnerable children, Mr Kelly said.

"We need to absolute nail this issue, get people arrested and prosecuted and get into place as a service and support network for vulnerable young women and girls".

Rochdale Council leader Neil Emmott said those involved in the failings were "long gone".

A multi-agency unit called the Sunrise Team was working to prevent, detected and prosecute abusers, he said.

He added: "We have also educated schools taxi drivers, off licences, takeaways, barbers, licensed premises and local residents about the signs of child sexual exploitation."

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