Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips this week sparked recent uncertainty over whether or not regional inquiries into grooming gangs – promised by the federal government in January – would go forward.
However her feedback have performed little to reassure Marlon West, whose daughter Scarlett was a sufferer of sexual exploitation in Manchester.
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1:19
PM challenged on grooming gang inquiry timeline
Ms Phillips’s assertion in parliament on Tuesday – which sparked criticism after it failed to say the critiques – left survivors “so disappointed”, he mentioned.
The uncertainty “makes you dizzy because you get hope and think ‘I’m getting somewhere now’ then they do a U-turn as they’ve done twice this week”, Mr West continued.
“I think they should be ashamed of themselves,” he mentioned. “The government now are messing around with survivors’ lives and campaigners like me.”
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0:41
Govt denies ‘watering down’ grooming gang inquiries
All through her ordeal, Scarlett has “been let down by the local authority, by social workers, by the police force,” he mentioned. “With the government, she’s just been let down again. That’s what’s cruel.”
Mr West added he’s “really disappointed” within the authorities’s resolution to push ahead with the 5 regional inquiries as an alternative of a statutory, nationwide one.
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Mr West’s daughter Scarlett was a sufferer of sexual exploitation
He identified that law enforcement officials and professionals can refuse to provide proof at regional inquiries, whereas nationwide ones can compel them to take action.
“With a statutory inquiry, it’d be more like a [legal] setting,” Mr West mentioned. “Professionals will not be allowed to refuse interviews. They have to attend.
“It must [be in a] authorized area the place they’re compelled to provide proof.”
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Scarlett West
His feedback got here because the prime minister mentioned the federal government is focussing on implementing the “hundreds” of suggestions from earlier inquiries into grooming gangs.
Sir Keir Starmer mentioned: “My strong belief is we’ve got to implement those recommendations.
“In the intervening time, and beneath the final authorities, they only stacked up and sat on a shelf. In order that they should be applied.”
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3:07
Grooming gangs: What occurred?
Each the prime minister and the house secretary have rejected claims the federal government’s pledge to carry “victim-centred, locally-led inquiries” is being “watered down”.
“What we’re doing is increasing the action we’re taking on this vile crime.”
Sir Keir individually mentioned: “We put the money behind it. We’re not watering it down. We’re committed to that.
“However, I am equally dedicated to implementing the suggestions that we have got.”
