07Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Sykes reassured by police commitment over child sexual exploitation review

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
In advance of the publication of an independent review into allegations of historic child sexual exploitation in Oldham, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, wrote recently to Greater Manchester Police seeking assurances that they ‘will act without fear or favour to reassure the public and bring all offenders to justice’. 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, were appointed to head up the review team and they are now working to finalise their report. In his letter, Councillor Sykes was keen to impress upon Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain MBE that Oldham’s Liberal…
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30Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Retain Rail to Refuge to save women from abusive relationships, says Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Marking the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Oldham Liberal Democrats have written to government ministers asking for the Rail to Refuge scheme, which supplies free train tickets to enable women to flee domestic violence, to be made permanent. The letter sent by the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, on behalf of his colleagues to the Secretary of State for Transport, Garth Shapps MP, and the Home Office Minister responsible for safeguarding women and children, Victoria Atkins MP, suggests that retaining the scheme is both a ‘necessary and logical thing’ to do. Councillor Sykes has also twice written to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, seeking his support. During the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic violence has hugely increased. Tragically, two women are killed…
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23Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats ensure Oldham Council will adopt recommendations of national Home Office-sponsored review into abuse

Liberal Democrats ensure Oldham Council will adopt recommendations of national Home Office-sponsored review into abuse

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Following the last meeting of Oldham Council (11 Nov), the Liberal Democrats have received confirmation that the Council will be taking the recommendations of the Independent Investigation into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and applying them to Oldham Council and its Safeguarding. The Council will also ensure that the findings of the independent investigation into allegations of historical CSE in Oldham are shared to IICSA.  Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “I really welcome this response from the Council. Challenging this abuse relies on the Council being open to improving its practices. Being ready to listen to the outcome of the IICSA investigation and ready to implement its findings is one demonstration of that. “Every council has a duty of care both to young people and to the wider community.…
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18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham leading the way on combatting street harassment

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
When Oldham Borough Council voted to pass the Liberal Democrat motion against street harassment this week, it became the first Council in the country to sign up to support the Our Streets Now campaign to combat public sexual harassment by making it a specific crime, and to introduce education in schools to combat the problem. Two thirds of girls in the UK have been sexually harassed in the street, but only 14% of them have been taught about public sexual harassment at school. Surveys have shown that nearly half of them would not report it to their school because they did not know how to, or feared that they would not be taken seriously. Maya Tutton, co-founder of Our Streets Now, said: “Our Streets Now are delighted that Oldham Borough…
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04Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Conservative Government still won’t commit to disbar sex offenders from public office

Conservative Government still won’t commit to disbar sex offenders from public office

Borough news, CSE, Parliamentary news
Two years after the Conservative Government promised to disbar sex offenders from public office, the government has still not introduced the necessary legislation and in a recent response to a question from a Liberal Democrat peer in Parliament they have given no promise to do so soon. Baroness Kath Pinnock has recently asked a question in Parliament on behalf of Oldham Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Howard Sykes MBE. Councillor Sykes backed a motion at Oldham Council with the-then Leader of the Council, Councillor Jean Stretton, calling on the Government to introduce legislation to prevent anyone required to sign the Sex Offences Act from standing or remaining in public office in March 2017. In October 2018 Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak MP promised to introduce the necessary legislation but, after…
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30Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats want to make street harassment a crime

Liberal Democrats want to make street harassment a crime

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrats want to see street harassment of women and girls made a crime, as it is in Portugal, Belgium and France. Saddleworth and Lees Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani is taking a motion on this issue to the next meeting of the full Council (Wednesday November 4). Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “Everyone should feel safe on our streets and in our communities, yet in national surveys two-thirds of women and girls report that they have been subjected to street harassment. We all the right to self-respect, and to freedom of movement and freedom of expression, yet women and girls are intimidated by this unwanted personal sexual attention. It is frightening and as a result some choose not to go out or do not feel able to be themselves. “I want…
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23Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Leader welcomes promised update on child sexual exploitation investigation at next Council meeting

Borough news, CSE
A report updating Councillors and the public on the progress made by the investigation team into historic allegations of child sexual exploitation in the Borough will be included in the agenda papers for the next full meeting of Oldham Council (4 November 2020). Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition, wrote to the Leader of the Council three weeks ago (30 Sept) requesting such a report. He has just received confirmation that this will now happen. Commenting he said: “I welcome the commitment to bring a report to the next Council meeting. There is a great deal of public and Councillor interest in this investigation and the Council has already committed to implementing its findings in full. It is now almost a year since the investigation into these serious…
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30Sep 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats seek assurances about allegations of child sexual exploitation dating back to 2013

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
Oldham Liberal Democrat councillors are aware of allegations currently circulating on social media with regards to historic child sexual exploitation and the suggestion of a subsequent cover up by senior Labour councillors and council officers dating back to 2013. Consequently, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats’ on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has raised the matter the Chief Executive of Oldham Council Dr Carolyn Wilkins, on the 9 September 2019, to establish how the Council intends to deal with these allegations in order to restore public confidence.  Councillor Sykes said:  “Although no contact has been made by anyone making allegations, it is only right and proper that in view of the scale and momentum of these allegations that they properly investigated and refuted, confirming the outcome of the 2013 investigation.  …
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16Sep 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Closing the loophole on exploitative sex in Oldham Borough

Borough news, CSE, domestic abuse and violence
A dangerous loophole has been found that is threatening young people’s safety. Liberal Democrat Councillor Diane Williamson wants to close the loophole on adults that can have sex with people just over the age of consent in the UK (currently 16).  This loophole concerns adults in a position of authority not defined in the law highlighted in an NSPCC campaign to change the law.  “Teachers are currently covered by the law preventing sex between them and 16/17-year olds, but faith workers, youth workers and sports coaches are currently exempted,” stated Councillor Williamson.  “These are people who could potentially exploit young people for sex and there have been many cases where they have.” The Liberal Democrats want Oldham Council and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to be ahead of the curve,…
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