Politicians, senior police officers, and social workers could face prosecution over their failure to tackle grooming gangs, under new plans by a police whistle blower and survivors of child sexual abuse, as reported by The Telegraph.
Maggie Oliver, the former Greater Manchester Police detective who exposed the Rochdale grooming scandal, is joining forces with victims to launch a £125,000 crowdfunding campaign aimed at investigating police forces, councils, and public officials accused of turning a blind eye to child sexual exploitation.
Working alongside a specialist legal team offering their services pro bono, the group hopes to collect enough evidence to support private prosecutions, civil claims, or other legal action against individuals who allegedly failed in their duty to protect children.
Speaking as the campaign launched on Monday, Ms Oliver said that misconduct in public office is one of the offences being explored to hold accountable senior officials who “knowingly failed in their duty to protect children” from grooming gangs and other forms of sexual abuse.
Ms Oliver, who resigned from Greater Manchester Police in 2012, said that successive governments have failed to deliver real change, prompting campaigners to take matters into their own hands.
Earlier this year, Ms Oliver warned Home Secretary Yvette Cooper that she could face legal action unless urgent steps were taken to address public concern around grooming gangs. She later dismissed a ministerial update as “empty words” and “more empty promises.”
The push for legal accountability follows widespread public outcry and criticism – including from billionaire Elon Musk – over how UK authorities have handled grooming scandals. His comments came in response to headlines surrounding the government’s slow progress in tackling recommendations made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
The seven-year inquiry, led by Professor Alexis Jay, uncovered institutional failings and identified thousands of victims across England and Wales. Its 2022 final report made 20 recommendations, describing child sexual abuse as a national “epidemic.”
The government has committed to implementing these reforms, including creating a new child protection authority and making it a criminal offence to obstruct abuse reports. Local inquiries into grooming gangs in at least five towns are expected to proceed, backed by £5 million in funding.
A national audit led by Baroness Casey into the scale of grooming gangs is also due to report after Easter.
However, Ms Oliver argued that while new legal measures on reporting abuse are a step forward, they do nothing to address past failings or bring justice to those already harmed.
The campaign – led by non-profit organisation Action for Accountability in partnership with Devonshires Solicitors – aims to do just that. If misconduct is found, they plan to initiate legal proceedings.
A 2022 inquiry into abuse in Telford found more than 1,000 children were exploited over a period of at least 30 years, with “shocking” failures by police and the local council.
The #TheyKnew fundraiser, launched on CrowdJustice, will cover legal advice, expert investigators, evidence gathering, and other associated costs. Any unused funds will be returned to donors or donated to charity.
