A scathing study has determined that subsequent sexual assault by Shabir Ahmed, the infamous head of the Rochdale grooming group and a convicted paedophile, could have been averted had his prior criminal conduct and the danger he posed to children been adequately addressed.
Nearly three years post-commissioning, an investigation into claims of historical child sexual exploitation has determined that children in Oldham were subjected to exploitation and inadequately supported by services intended to safeguard them.
The assessment, commissioned by Oldham Council in 2019 and authored by experts Malcolm Newsam and Gary Ridgway, examined the handling of child sexual exploitation by authorities in Oldham from 2011 to 2014, including a particular case from 2005.
The review has revealed that Shabir Ahmed served as a welfare officer in Oldham for a year without oversight, despite allegations of serious child sexual abuse against him.
The investigation of Shabir Ahmed’s connections to Oldham and the council revealed significant deficiencies in the authorities’ management of the predator.
The report indicates that a substantial allegation of child sexual assault was reported to the police in 2005 against Ahmed while his employment at Oldham Council.
This transpired three years prior to his arrest over the extensive grooming and gang rape in Rochdale, which also involved the failure of police and social services to protect the abused girls.
Referred to as Daddy, Shabir Ahmed, by his victims, he was convicted of two counts of rape, aiding and abetting rape, sexual assault, and trafficking for sexual exploitation, receiving a sentence of 19 years in jail.
In June 2012, he was convicted of an additional 30 counts of rape and sentenced to a further 22 years in prison, extending his total incarceration by three years.
Shabir Ahmed, aged 69, was employed at Oldham Council from 1988 to 2006 as a welfare rights worker, assigned to the Oldham Pakistani Community Centre.
This position would have involved potential interaction with many vulnerable individuals and their offspring.
The review team asserts that there were significant deficiencies in the investigations conducted by both the council and Greater Manchester Police about concerns about Shabir Ahmed, while claims of child sexual assault were made against him throughout his tenure as a welfare officer.
The whole particulars of his case remain undisclosed because to apprehensions regarding jigsaw identification of his victims.
Nevertheless, a description of the case contained in the report indicates that as early as 2005, GMP was informed of a grave accusation of child sexual assault committed by Ahmed.
The victim, now an adult, informed the authorities that Shabir Ahmed may have had contact with a young kid residing outside of Oldham.
A crime report was not filed based on this information, which GMP stated was consistent with its operational procedures at that time. The assessment team asserts that the National Crime Recording Standard in effect at that time mandated the recording of a crime.
GMP neglected to contact the local authority responsible for the child and failed to notify Oldham Council, Shabir Ahmed’s employer at the time.
Following the revelation that he may have constituted a significant threat to children, Newsam and Ridgway assert that a comprehensive evaluation should have been conducted to determine the risks he provided to any other children he might have encountered.
However, inadequate checks were conducted to ascertain whether his position provided him access to vulnerable persons and children.
The research indicates that this occurrence could have potentially prevented the tragic mistreatment of other children.
In February 2008, Shabir Ahmed was apprehended for the sexual assault of a minor, and in July of the same year, he was also detained on suspicion of abducting two other children.
Nevertheless, the assessment indicates that neither youngster lodged a complaint; so, no crime was documented, and no additional measures were implemented.
Upon inquiry by the review team, Oldham Council could not locate any documentation indicating that Greater Manchester Police had informed them of these claims.
There is no evidence that GMP informed the council regarding the claims, so preventing an investigation into the potential hazards he may have posed to children with whom he could have interacted through his employment.
Oldham Council was not involved in following strategic conversations between GMP and Rochdale Council over Shabir Ahmed, as well as the allegations from 2008 and 2005.
Despite Shabir Ahmed being charged with sexual assault in late September 2008, Oldham council failed to initiate a safeguarding review or communicate with the police force.
He would not be incarcerated for his extensive sexual offences until 2012.
In 2011, he was indicted for the 2005 rape of a minor and subsequently detained in detention.
Oldham Council was informed by the probation service, and given the severe child sexual abuse, this should have presented an additional chance to do a comprehensive assessment of [Shabir Ahmed’s] situation; however, there is no evidence that this took place.
GMP sought copies of documents about Ahmed and his family, which alerted Oldham Council to the youngster residing outside the borough who may have been at risk.
This critical information should have compelled the authority to initiate a multi-agency strategic dialogue to evaluate the threats posed to other children. Nevertheless, the examination indicates that the council has consistently failed to find any documentation elucidating why this did not transpire.
The subsequent year, another young woman courageously disclosed her abuse by Shabir Ahmed, prompting GMP to inform Oldham Council of the claims.
The assault transpired during his tenure as a welfare rights officer; however, it is unclear if he had engaged with her family in a professional role.
Nevertheless, the report indicates that children’s social care suddenly terminated the case within a few days without doing any examination.
The authority has failed to identify any additional information regarding this child, and the review indicates a lack of evidence for an assessment of her complaints or her vulnerability.
The review team has been notified that Greater Manchester Police abandoned the case due to the absence of a realistic possibility of conviction, according to the report.
Neither Greater Manchester Police nor Oldham Council could assure the review team that the child’s claims and vulnerabilities were adequately addressed.
The review panel concluded that both Greater Manchester Police and Oldham Council exhibited significant numerous failings in adhering to the established protocols for investigating the threat [Ahmed] posed to children.
If these protocols had been adhered to, his deviant behaviour could have been rectified sooner, potentially averting the abuse of his subsequent victims.
Subsequent discoveries
The research additionally reveals that several active cab drivers in Oldham faced allegations of rape or sexual offences against minors nevertheless retained their licenses.
Two drivers accused of assaulting minors ought to have had their licenses removed by the council, but several known offenders were allowed or had their taxi licenses extended by councillors.
Subsequent to the Rotherham crisis, in 2014, Oldham council conducted a review of all cases involving licence holders suspected of sexual offences.
Initially, five drivers with major criminal offences were detected; however, only one was presented to the licensing panel, resulting in the revocation of his licence.
One of the remaining four perpetrated a sexual assault on a young female passenger in 2015. He was convicted of indecent assault against a woman in a shopping centre and handed a conditional discharge.
In 2017, he was convicted of the subsequent assault, prompting the judge to question the issuance of a licence in light of his prior conviction, which led to a formal complaint to the council.
Subsequently, the council’s chief executive, Carolyn Wilkins, mandated police to conduct a review of all licensed drivers, totalling approximately 1,300 individuals.
The study identified nine drivers, one of whom had been convicted of offences against children.
Out of these nine, six licenses were either revoked or terminated.
A driver was interrogated by police regarding two distinct alleged sexual assaults, occurring three years apart, involving two young female passengers.
There were also troubling specifics on the misconduct of another driver. A passenger was reportedly sexually attacked in his taxi and subsequently raped.
The Crown Prosecution Service had not pursued any additional action; yet, this was the sole information provided to the licensing panel.
He publicly addressed the issue with the then chief constable of GMP, Ian Hopkins, in 2018, but received no response.
GMP has acknowledged the initiation of a review on the substance, application, and senior ownership of its disclosure policy related to taxi drivers.
Concealment?
A significant chunk of the research focusses on determining whether authorities, including the police, council, and political leaders, concealed the activities of grooming gangs in the borough.
The review team concludes that there is no evidence of a systematic cover-up of sexual exploitation, nor is there evidence that top managers or councillors attempted to conceal the possible exploitation of youngsters by local taxi services.
The team received no evidence, either from interviews or documentary analysis, indicating widespread exploitation of children in residential facilities in Oldham.
An official statement issued by GMP said that they have only two pieces of intelligence regarding suspected CSE, both of which were unsubstantiated.
This was derived from the response of a police sergeant requested to furnish information regarding the media inquiry.
The review team asserts that there were unequivocal concerns from the council and police during this period that high-profile convictions of primarily Pakistani offenders could be exploited by a far-right agenda, potentially resulting in the victimisation of the Pakistani community.
Nevertheless, it is evident from the available information that the council and its allies did not evade this issue; rather, they perceived successful disruption and prosecution as the means to gain the trust of all communities in Oldham, they assert.
Substantial evidence indicates that the council undertook all feasible measures to disseminate information regarding the threat of child sexual exploitation.
Reports were sent to council committees, biannual meetings convened with the leader, chief executive, cabinet members, and the opposition leader to address safeguarding issues, and the council implemented a training program on CSE for councillors to participate in.
This encompassed the presentation of the play, Somebody’s Sister, Somebody’s Daughter, addressing sexual exploitation, which was exhibited to almost 3,000 kids in Oldham’s schools throughout the borough.
In 2014, former council leader Jim McMahon stated on his blog that those who refuse to acknowledge that in Rotherham, Oxford, Rochdale, and Oldham, this specific form of abuse is primarily perpetrated by Pakistani men against white girls are neither assisting the victims nor benefiting the broader Asian community.
He stated that the involvement of far-right campaigners in court cases was, in fact, a greater impetus to take action.
Failure to address misconduct provides greater opportunity for individuals seeking political advantage through allegations of cover-ups and failures against those in power, he stated.
The review team says that this unequivocally disproves the notion that Mr. McMahon aimed to shield criminals from the Pakistani community; instead, he sought to confront the issue directly.
The statements of the authorities
In reaction to the findings, leaders in Greater Manchester have expressed remorse for the deficiencies exhibited by both law enforcement and child protection services.
Amanda Chadderton, the leader of Oldham council, stated: We completely acknowledge the conclusions of this independent assessment.
It underscores significant deficiencies in our programs, which were inadequate in safeguarding vulnerable young individuals enduring severe maltreatment. I really apologise for that.
I can never really comprehend the experiences of those girls, and I recognise that an apology at this point cannot rectify the events of the past.
I aim to provide reassurance that, as a council, we have not remained stagnant since the period referenced in the review.
We have assimilated insights from reports conducted in many towns and cities nationwide, as well as modifications in national directives, and have consequently altered our practices.
The nature of our work has significantly evolved.
Nonetheless, we remain vigilant. We are capable of and will enhance our performance as necessary.
Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, stated that the safeguarding measures implemented by GMP throughout the review period were insufficient to protect children from sexual assault.
I extend my heartfelt apologies to all individuals impacted by the events detailed in the report. Our actions were very inadequate compared to the assistance they rightfully anticipated and were unacceptable.
I apologise for the pain and persistent trauma they have endured due to their experiences.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.