Home Secretary Yvette Cooper received a pre-action letter from a former detective over the grooming gangs scandal just hours before confirming new measures for local inquiries.
The letter, sent by Maggie Oliver on Wednesday, warned that Cooper could go to court unless she takes “urgent steps to allay widespread public concern” over gangs sexually exploiting children.
The news emerged shortly before Cooper unveiled new measures to investigate child exploitation and abuse in the House of Commons earlier today.
In a statement from the charity set up in her name, Oliver said she had put Cooper “on notice” that she would seek a judicial review in the High Court unless the Home Secretary “publicly confirms that she will implement all 20 of the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and publishes a timetable for implementation of those recommendations, and takes urgent steps to allay widespread public concern regarding the grooming and sexual abuse by organised gangs/groups”.
If the Home Secretary “does not agree to these reasonable requests”, Oliver added: “I will issue an application to the High Court seeking permission to challenge the Secretary of State’s refusal to take action on urgent issues of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
“I recognise that there are a range of views on these issues amongst survivors, victims and other interested parties.
“However, I would ask all persons who are concerned about children to support my request for urgent, tangible and transparent action to combat the epidemic of abuse of children.”
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The letter, sent by Maggie Oliver on Wednesday, warned that Cooper could go to court unless she takes “urgent steps to allay widespread public concern” over gangs sexually exploiting children.
The news emerged shortly before Cooper unveiled new measures to investigate child exploitation and abuse in the House of Commons earlier today.
In a statement from the charity set up in her name, Oliver said she had put Cooper “on notice” that she would seek a judicial review in the High Court unless the Home Secretary “publicly confirms that she will implement all 20 of the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and publishes a timetable for implementation of those recommendations, and takes urgent steps to allay widespread public concern regarding the grooming and sexual abuse by organised gangs/groups”.
If the Home Secretary “does not agree to these reasonable requests”, Oliver added: “I will issue an application to the High Court seeking permission to challenge the Secretary of State’s refusal to take action on urgent issues of child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.
“I recognise that there are a range of views on these issues amongst survivors, victims and other interested parties.
“However, I would ask all persons who are concerned about children to support my request for urgent, tangible and transparent action to combat the epidemic of abuse of children.”
Find Out More...