GMP child protection must be reviewed by police inspectorate

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) should investigate GMP’s handling of child protection, say Oldham Liberal Democrats, who have written to HMICFRS to request a review of the force.

GMP was last reviewed in 2014, but has since had assurance review reports published into failings in South Manchester and Oldham; with further reports due on Rochdale and across Manchester as a whole.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It is nearly a decade since GMP were assessed; and there have been clear findings since which mean that people are concerned that survivors are being failed.

“If we are to have confidence that GMP has changed from the organisation that was criticised by the two assurance reviews, then an independent review is needed that would help identify any further issues, or help to give people reassurance in the organisation if that is warranted.”

In the latest review carried out by HMICFRS of the Met Police, it was found that vulnerable children were being put at risk, particularly around failing children in care who go missing; using “victim-blaming” language, and being slow to respond if at all to reports of runaways from local authority homes.

Councillor Al-Hamdani continued: “The failings identified in the Met review completely mirror what we heard in the assurance review carried out in Oldham. It is therefore vital that we get an investigation from an independent body which can assess whether the required improvements have been carried out.”