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| Rochdale grooming victims: Police 'could have done more' | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said "it could have done more" for victims of grooming in Rochdale, blaming target-driven policing for "anomalies". | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said "it could have done more" for victims of grooming in Rochdale, blaming target-driven policing for "anomalies". |
| Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said the force was under "significant scrutiny" from police standards watchdogs for its responses to crimes such as burglary. | Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said the force was under "significant scrutiny" from police standards watchdogs for its responses to crimes such as burglary. |
| Since those targets were removed in 2012, officers have been "encouraged" to support sexual exploitation victims. | Since those targets were removed in 2012, officers have been "encouraged" to support sexual exploitation victims. |
| In 2012, nine men were jailed for running a child sex ring in Rochdale. | In 2012, nine men were jailed for running a child sex ring in Rochdale. |
| Performance-driven targets | Performance-driven targets |
| Sir Peter's comments were released in a statement after media reports claimed GMP failed to investigate allegations of abuse by child grooming gangs over a 10-year period. | Sir Peter's comments were released in a statement after media reports claimed GMP failed to investigate allegations of abuse by child grooming gangs over a 10-year period. |
| "About five years ago, GMP was under significant scrutiny from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Home Office Standards Unit for its response to acquisitive crimes such as burglary and car crime. | |
| "As a result, the force was required to focus on improving its performance in relation to those offences," Sir Peter said. | "As a result, the force was required to focus on improving its performance in relation to those offences," Sir Peter said. |
| He said the "imposition of targets to drive performance inevitably leads to anomalies in behaviour", adding they were removed two years ago, with the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner. | He said the "imposition of targets to drive performance inevitably leads to anomalies in behaviour", adding they were removed two years ago, with the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner. |
| Last year, a serious case review by the Rochdale Safeguarding Children Board highlighted failures by 17 agencies who were meant to protect the children. | Last year, a serious case review by the Rochdale Safeguarding Children Board highlighted failures by 17 agencies who were meant to protect the children. |
| Police and social workers failed the girls who were "passed around for sex" by a gang of men, it said. | Police and social workers failed the girls who were "passed around for sex" by a gang of men, it said. |
| Sir Peter said: "GMP has recognised that it could have done more to support the victims of child sexual exploitation in Rochdale." | Sir Peter said: "GMP has recognised that it could have done more to support the victims of child sexual exploitation in Rochdale." |
| "Since 2010 we have moved considerable resources into child protection and the investigation of sexual exploitation. | "Since 2010 we have moved considerable resources into child protection and the investigation of sexual exploitation. |
| "Considerable resources are now invested in a number of ongoing investigations and we have already made clear that further arrests will be made," Sir Peter added. | "Considerable resources are now invested in a number of ongoing investigations and we have already made clear that further arrests will be made," Sir Peter added. |