‘Too little too late’ Former detective’s anger at ‘racist’ abuse cases

BBC/GETTY

Maggie Oliver has said Amber Rudd is ‘too little too late’ in speaking about sex grooming gangs

Maggie Oliver said a sophisticated network of abusers from predominantly Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds had grown unchallenged because the authorities feared being labelled racist.

Her comments follow the conviction last week of an 18-strong gang in Newcastle upon Tyne who sexually abused girls as young as 13.

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After the case, it was claimed that the apparently racially aggravated nature of the crimes carried out by the group, made up of British-born men from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Iraqi and Turkish communities, was not reflected in their punishment.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd waded into the row and said that “political and cultural sensitivities” should not deter work aimed at uncovering child abuse.

Amber Rudd’s words are too little too late. She is jumping on the bandwagon and playing to public outrage at what has been allowed to evolve over 15 years

Maggie Oliver, former detective

However, former detective constable Ms Oliver said the Home Office had been aware of the issue since 2004 during a probe into grooming gangs in Manchester.

The former Greater Manchester Police officer said the Home Office was in contact almost daily during Operation Span, the investigation into Rochdale six years later, and was fearful of the racial connotations.

ITV

Maggie said abuse scandals had become unchallenged as authorities feared being labelled racist

She said: “Amber Rudd’s words are too little too late. She is jumping on the bandwagon and playing to public outrage at what has been allowed to evolve over 15 years.”

After the conclusion of the Rochdale case in 2012, nine men were convicted for their involvement in the sex ring which saw underage girls plied with alcohol and free food before being passed around for sex.

Ms Oliver, a witness protection officer to some of the vulnerable victims, resigned from Greater Manchester Police after claiming the force had failed the young victims.

PA

An 18-strong gang in Newcastle upon Tyne were jailed for sexually abused girls as young as 13

The horrific abuse suffered by the young victims and how they were failed by the authorities was the subject of the gritty three-part BBC drama series Three Girls in which Ms Oliver was played by actress Lesley Sharp.

Northumbria Police paid a convicted child rapist nearly £10,000 over 21 months to infiltrate the Newcastle grooming gang. Ms Oliver said the tactic was “unethical” and “unjustifiable”. 

GETTY

Maggie helped expose the Rochdale child abuse scandal in 2012

She added: “I thought it was unnecessary and inappropriate. To choose a convicted paedophile beggars belief.”

However, the Police Federation said: “If you want to know what’s going on in the sewer, there’s no point asking an eagle. You need to find a rat.”