A survivor of abuse has resigned from her role in the national inquiry into grooming gangs, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest related to the shortlisted candidates for chair.
Fiona Goddard, who experienced abuse by gangs while residing in a children’s home in Bradford, stated that she was failed “multiple times” by social services and law enforcement.
She has stepped down from the victims and survivors liaison panel, expressing reservations about the individuals under consideration to lead the inquiry, reportedly a former police chief and a social worker.
The Home Office has affirmed its “commitment to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans this summer for a comprehensive national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs operating across England and Wales, with Ms. Goddard initially joining the panel overseeing the process.
However, in her resignation letter, she cited “condescending and controlling language used towards survivors” as an additional factor in her decision to leave.
“This inquiry is supposed to be a public process and should have been conducted openly and transparently from the start,” she asserted.
“Survivors’ anonymity is obviously of utmost importance and they should be secure in knowing their personal details and opinions are confidential.
“The dynamics of this inquiry, including potential chairs and progress, should have been conducted openly and honestly by the government, and survivors should have had the choice to voice their opinions if they decided to.”
Ms. Goddard alleged that instead, “secretive conduct” and “conditions imposed on survivors has led to a toxic, fearful environment”.
Regarding the selection of potential chairs, she stated: “One has a background in policing and the other, a social worker.
“The very two services that contributed most to the cover-up of the national mass rape and trafficking of children.”
She characterized this as a “disturbing conflict of interest.”
Ms. Goddard also raised concerns about “repeated” attempts by officials to broaden the scope of the investigation beyond grooming gangs to encompass broader issues of child sexual abuse, arguing that this risked a “watered down” inquiry.
Echoing her sentiments, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called for the inquiry to be led by a senior judge to ensure impartiality and restore confidence in the process.
“Survivors will never get justice from the same institutions that failed them in the before,” he said.
“This inquiry must be led by a sitting or recently retired senior judge, not ex-police officers or social workers marking their own homework.
“Every official, police officer, and councillor who enabled these crimes must face prosecution for misconduct in public office.”
Solicitor Richard Scorer, representing grooming gang survivors nationwide, concurred with Ms. Goddard’s concerns regarding the perceived inadequacies of the original Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) concerning grooming gangs.
He asserted that the IICSA “ignored” areas like Oldham and Bradford “where the biggest scandals have occurred” and lacked “almost no victim and survivor evidence” to challenge claims of improvement from police and social services.
“If the Home Office repeats that mistake by having another superficial inquiry, and trying to stage manage it, survivors will see through this,” he warned.
“Only a proper, forensic investigation into past failings will be good enough.
“In addition local areas like Oldham need to be able to press ahead with their local inquiry, which can feed into the national one – the delay here is unacceptable”.
However, a Home Office spokeswoman refuted claims that the inquiry was being diluted, emphasizing that victims and survivors remained “at the heart of the process.”
She stated: “Any suggestion that this inquiry is being watered down is completely wrong – we are committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for.”
Downing Street added the government was working “flat out to get the right chair in place”, but declined to give “running commentary” on the process.
Asked about Ms Goddard’s resignation on Monday, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We’re grateful to everyone who shared their insights with us.
“I’m sure you’ll understand our concerns about speculation. We’re still going through this process, that’s why we’re not going to give a running commentary on it.
“But the abuse of children by grooming gangs, as we’ve said before, is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.”
Ms. Goddard was among two girls who suffered abuse in 2008 while residing in a children’s home.
The abuse was brought to light in 2014, when she saw a report on the grooming and sexual abuse of hundreds of young girls in Rotherham, prompting her to contact the BBC.
She provided testimony at a 2019 trial that resulted in the jailing of nine men who abused her as a child.
The nine were convicted of 22 offences including rape and inciting child prostitution and Ms Goddard waived her right to anonymity to speak to the press.
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