Labour Mayor Oliver Coppard is calling for the release of a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into how senior officers handled the investigation into grooming gangs in Rotherham. This follows a Channel 4 news investigation that alleged two former IOPC investigators were discouraged from pursuing inquiries into senior officers.
The Mayor of South Yorkshire , Oliver Coppard , has demanded that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) release a report concerning the mishandling of the investigation into grooming gangs in Rotherham . Coppard's request follows a Channel 4 news investigation which featured testimonies from two former IOPC investigators involved in Operation Linden , a long-running probe into failures within South Yorkshire Police.
These investigators, Garry Harper and others, claim they were discouraged from pursuing inquiries into senior officers during the operation. Coppard stated his intention to obtain the report, previously denied to his predecessor, and expressed concern about the potential for officers who failed to protect children during the Rotherham scandal to remain within the force. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring that everyone responsible for the failures in Rotherham is held accountable. Coppard also acknowledged the public's legitimate concerns regarding justice being served in similar cases, citing the Hillsborough tragedy as an example where victims' families felt let down by the system.In response to the Channel 4 investigation, the IOPC asserted that investigators were not instructed to avoid investigating senior officers. They maintain that Operation Linden included a dedicated investigation focused solely on senior officers within South Yorkshire Police. The IOPC emphasized that if any indication of corruption had been found, it would have been rigorously pursued. They also stated that there was no attempt to conceal the report. The IOPC's response comes amidst a wider national debate on grooming gangs, with the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announcing a rapid audit into grooming gangs led by Baroness Casey, along with local inquiries in five areas, including Oldham.
Rotherham Grooming Gangs Police Investigation South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard Independent Office For Police Conduct (IOPC) Operation Linden
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