abuse – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

31Oct 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Final IICSA report lays bare the scale of abuse across the country

Borough news, domestic abuse and violence

Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has insisted that the final, damning report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) is on the agenda for the first meeting of Oldham Council’s steering group tasked with tackling child sex exploitation in the borough. Oldham’s senior leadership team have already agreed to Liberal Democrat requests to ensure that any relevant recommendations from the IICSA reports are put into place in the borough. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “This report shows that child sex abuse is a national problem that has been catastrophically under-reported, and the failings that were seen in Oldham have been also seen in cities and towns all across the UK. “We need to support those incredibly committed social workers, who we do have in Oldham, to really make changes that…

13Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Final national reports into child sex abuse released in time to be included in Oldham joint workshop

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence

The final two reports of the Home Office-sponsored Independent Investigation into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA) are due to be released on February 1 (Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks) and March 1 (Residential Schools). Following conversations between Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, senior Council management, and the Managing Director of Children & Young People, it has been agreed that following the publication of the report into CSE in Oldham at the end of this month, the Oldham Children’s Safeguarding Partnership will undertake a joint workshop with the Adult Safeguarding Partnership, which will include learning from IICSA, and inform the development of Oldham’s Complex Safeguarding Strategy. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “The Council must be ready to accept the outcome of the report into CSE in Oldham. This is just one of the ways…

14Dec 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Law Commission backs street harassment campaign

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news

The national body which reviews laws has recommended that public street harassment (PSH) should be made a specific crime, a great step forward for the campaign, says local councillor and supporter Sam Al-Hamdani. After successfully getting Oldham Council to back the campaign, the local Liberal Democrat councillor has been working nationally with Our Streets Now to get the issue recognised by councils across the UK, and deliver tailored education in schools to combat harassment. The Councillor, who is also a White Ribbon Ambassador – a charity challenging male violence against women, was delighted with the news, although he warned that it still has a long way to go before it is on the statute books. He said: “When I heard the recommendation, I was delighted, although it was tempered by…

10Nov 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Council must keep its promise to implement national recommendations on abuse

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence

Oldham Council are being held to account on their promise to implement any relevant findings of the Home-Office sponsored Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. With the most recent report by the Inquiry covering child protection in religious organisations and settings, Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to the Council’s Managing Director of Children & Young People, and its interim Chief Executive Harry Catherall, to ask for an update on the work that has already taken place, and for what it has planned to do going forward. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “The previous chief executive had confirmed that the Council would implement any relevant recommendations from the Independent Investigation, and I wanted to ensure that our incoming chief executive was fully aware of the work that…

01Oct 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Ed Davey calls for Royal Commission into male violence against women and girls

Parliamentary news

Following the sentencing of Wayne Couzens and further revelations about the Metropolitan Police, Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats has called for a Royal Commission into male violence against women and girls and for misogyny to be immediately declared a hate crime. Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said: “Enough is enough. Since Sarah Everard’s tragic death, 80 women have allegedly been killed at the hands of men. It is time to treat this issue with the most serious response possible. “The undermining of the authority of the police around the safety of women means that only the most senior form of inquiry into this matter will do. “Alongside immediate action to make misogyny a hate crime, a Royal Commission is the best way to bring long lasting…

03Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats hold Council to promise on findings from national CSE inquiry

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence

Oldham Council’s Safeguarding Partnership is working to introduce recommendations from the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse (IICSA), following further work from the Liberal Democrat group on the Council. Having already received a promise from the Council that it would apply any relevant local recommendations into their work, Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani went through the last two IICSA reports in detail to identify those that applied, and demanded a detailed response from the Council on how they were being implemented. Those recommendations have now been taken to Oldham’s Safeguarding Partnership by the Managing Director of the Children & Young People team, who will then be reporting back on what specific actions are being taken. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “We worked hard to ensure that the Council made that commitment, but we…

22Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Safer streets fund opportunity for Oldham

Borough news

The addition of £25 million from the Home Office into the Safer Streets fund is an opportunity for Oldham to improve its work in schools to combat violence against women and girls, and combat public street harassment, says local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani With the opportunity to bid for up to £550,000, Councillor Al-Hamdani has written to Oldham Council to ensure that they apply to run a programme later this year, such as introducing educational and community programmes across the Borough. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “Oldham Council already pledged to support Our Streets Now’s work to improve education in schools to combat harassment, and it is vital that we take every opportunity to change the culture around violence and abuse. “The release of the Ofsted review of sexual abuse emphasized…

28Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Domestic Abuse Bill: Government must follow through with funding for services

Parliamentary news

As the Domestic Abuse Bill completed its final stages in Parliament today, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine, who moved the motion to record misogynistic hate crimes, commented: "This bill passing into law will mean so much to so many people who have campaigned and worked to combat the scourge of domestic abuse in our society. “It was hugely emotional at times but at others inspiring to experience the strength of cross-party support and determination over the past four years to make this legislation something that we can all be proud of. “Crucial steps like recognising that children who witness abuse at home are also affected and need support and extending protections to survivors in all court cases to reduce the distress these hearings can cause, would not have been possible…

18Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government inaction is failing survivors of rape and sexual assault

Parliamentary news

New figures today on sexual offences in England and Wales show that 80% of victims of sexual assault in 2019-20 were women. The figures also show fewer than one in six survivors report rape to the police. Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Justice and Women and Equalities, reacted to these findings: "As the shocking killing of Sarah Everard reminded us so painfully, far too many women experience violence at the hands of far too many men. “These figures show that rape and sexual assault are all too prevalent, and yet only a small proportion are reported to the police. Conviction rates are far too low. “Survivors deserve justice. They must be properly supported to come forward, and be listened to when they do. However, Government inaction is failing…

17Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes seeks review of suspended sentence handed out to Shaw sexual offender

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Shaw Ward and Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council, has written to the Attorney General, The Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, seeking an urgent review of the suspended prison sentence handed down by Tameside Magistrates Court last week to Javed Miah from Shaw. Miah was convicted of a serious predatory sexual offence after he attacked a lone female in Oldham Town Centre. The victim was able to raise the alarm via an SOS function on her mobile phone causing the offender to run away. In his letter to the Attorney General, Councillor Sykes said: “Following the recent tragic death of Sarah Everard, the continued safety of women on our streets from predatory males will, I am sure, be especially at…