Andy Burnham gives grooming gangs update as GMP says officers behind past failings WON'T be punished

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Andy Burnham has issued an update on Greater Manchester Police's investigations into grooming gangs following a new report. The report by the police inspectorate comes after a series of damning verdicts into GMP's historic handling of child exploitation in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale.

But the Greater Manchester mayor said the new report shows the force is 'much better' now. Mr Burnham said that thanks to the review he commissioned in 2017 - which revealed 'serious strategic and systemic failures' in the force - offenders are now being brought to justice as he shared details of ongoing operations into historic child sexual exploitation.

However, chief constable Stephen Watson admitted the officers responsible for serious failings in the past are not being punished. READ MORE: GMP must do more to keep children safe from online exploitation, inspectors find Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, former GMP detective turned whistleblower Maggie Oliver said that senior officers should be held to account even if they are retired.

The campaigner, who now supports victims of child sexual exploitation, also told the M.E.N. that GMP's progress in prosecuting offenders has been too slow, saying that it is 'unacceptable' that many survivors are still waiting.