10Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes appeals to Lord Chancellor over lenient magistrate court sentence

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Councillor Howard Sykes, MBE, Leader of the Real Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, has written to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland MP, seeking a change in the law after receiving a frustrating letter denying him a review of an unduly lenient sentence. On 15 March, councillor Sykes wrote to the Attorney General’s Office asking for a review of a case in which Shaw resident, Javid Miah, 23, had sexually assaulted a woman in a frightening attack in Oldham town centre, but Miah had inexplicably not received an immediate custodial sentence for his crime. Councillor Sykes said: “This case caused many of my constituents’ real disquiet. This offender lives in my hometown and yet he was set free to continue to…
Read More
08Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats request debate on Child Sexual Exploitation review at July Council

Borough news, CSE
The Liberal Democrats want to see the promised report from the review on historic allegations of child sexual exploitation to be published in advance of the 14 July meeting of the Full Council and for time to be set aside to debate the report at the meeting. The Leader of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has sent his request to the Leader of Oldham Council and the Chief Executive on 25 May and yet has had no response or acknowledgement. In November 2019, Oldham Council and the Oldham Safeguarding Partnership commissioned the independent review from the Mayor of Greater Manchester. Two experienced investigators, Malcolm Newsam MBE, a childcare expert, and Gary Ridgeway, formerly a senior police officer specialising in public protection, are now working to finalise…
Read More
19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Conservatives vote to remove strip domestic violence register from landmark Bill

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
The Conservative Government has chosen to vote down legislation establishing a register of serial and serious perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking. The register, which was backed by a motion to Oldham Council by Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Chris Gloster, would have meant active support for women at threat of violence from serial abusers. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “It is shameful that this amendment – and others aimed at protecting the safety of anyone who is the subject of domestic abuse – have been removed from the Bill. They received overwhelming support across the political spectrum when they were proposed in the House of Lords. “The Domestic Abuse Bill will make a huge difference to many people’s lives, but there are opportunities to save people from violence…
Read More
29Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats welcome Lords amendment on national stalking register

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have welcomed recent news that the Domestic Abuse Bill passing through Parliament will now contain a commitment to establish a national offenders’ register for those convicted of stalking or domestic violence after the House of Lords amended the legislation. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Gloster, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience, proposed the establishment of just such a register when he brought a motion to last December’s meeting of Oldham Council with the support of the Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service. Councillor Chris Gloster is elated: “In light of the recent tragic murder of Sarah Everard, this development brings some hope that in the future serial offenders who are violent towards or stalk their victims will be tracked to prevent their reoffending and save…
Read More
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…
Read More
02Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Pressure tells as Government agrees changes to Domestic Abuse Bill on intimate image threats

Pressure tells as Government agrees changes to Domestic Abuse Bill on intimate image threats

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
After tens of thousands of supporters contacted the Government in support of a change to the Domestic Abuse Bill, to outlaw threats to share intimate images, the Conservatives have agreed that it should form part of the forthcoming Domestic Abuse Bill.  Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who was one of many to write to the Home Office calling for the legislation, was delighted to hear of the change. He said: “We need to change the UK’s culture around domestic abuse. This is another step in breaking down the taboos and attitudes which have let this situation fester for so long.” The lockdown has focused attention on domestic abuse, with rates dramatically increasing, but even before the start of lockdown, it was already endemic. According to Government figures, in the…
Read More
17Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrat Leader appeals to Home Secretary over DBS checks for Councillors

Borough news, CSE
The Oldham Liberal Democrats have appealed to the Home Secretary to change the law to make it lawful and easier for local authorities to conduct enhanced criminal records checks (now called DBS checks) on local councillors. The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has recently corresponded with the Disclosure and Barring Service, which is responsible for carrying out DBS checks. They informed him that under the law as it currently stands local authorities are unable to carry out such checks on elected members. Dismayed at the response, Councillor Sykes yesterday wrote to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel MP, asking her to ‘make Councillors a specifically listed role in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (so) local authorities…
Read More
27Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
New Government strategy on tackling child sex abuse welcome – but we need action not just talk

New Government strategy on tackling child sex abuse welcome – but we need action not just talk

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence, Parliamentary news
The Home Office’s new Tackling Child Sex Abuse Strategy could help put the UK ahead of the world in tackling abuse, but a Government which is big on promises and poor on delivery must not miss this opportunity, says Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani. He raised concerns that much of the strategy can only be delivered with spending decisions that have been put off by the current Conservative Government, as well as new legislation which has been repeatedly delayed. The 91-page strategy details the extent to which the police, social care, intelligence agencies and government must work together to make an impact on abuse, and bring offenders to justice. It specifically targets online spaces, and focuses on providing adequate safeguarding for children and young people, as well as support for victims. Liberal…
Read More
25Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek ‘rolling’ criminal records checks for all Councillors

Borough news, CSE, Parliamentary news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors want to see ‘rolling’ criminal records checks introduced for all elected members as part of an ongoing campaign to improve safeguarding and reassure the public. The Liberal Democrats have previously called on the government to bar Councillors from office, or standing for office, if they are convicted of an offence requiring them to sign the Sex Offenders Register. They have also asked the government to tighten up existing legislation to ensure that all persons in a ‘position of trust’ who are currently exempted, such as sports coaches, cannot lawfully engage in sexual activity with a young person in their care. At present, all Oldham Councillors must apply for an enhanced criminal record check at the start of every four-year term of office. This is vetted by…
Read More
11Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek National Stalking and Domestic Violence Register to catch offenders

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham’s Liberal Democrats believe that proposed legislation currently going through Parliament would be much more effective if it included a commitment to establish an offenders’ register for those convicted of stalking or domestic violence. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Gloster, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience, will be proposing a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (16 December) calling on the government to create this register as part of the Domestic Abuse Bill when it becomes law. Councillor Chris Gloster explained why he is bringing this motion to Council: “The Covid-19 lockdown has sadly led to a significant increase in reports of domestic violence as partners have been obliged to spend more time at home and underlying tensions in relationships lead to breakdown. Most shockingly…
Read More