by Charles Hymas, Telegraph
The country is demanding action be taken, says Rochdale whistleblower Maggie Oliver
Politicians, police chiefs and social workers could be prosecuted over their failure to tackle grooming gangs under plans by a police whistleblower and victims of child sexual abuse.
Maggie Oliver, the Greater Manchester detective who exposed the Rochdale grooming scandal, and the victims are launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise £125,000 to investigate police forces, local councils and individuals who they believe turned a blind eye and failed to act over child sexual exploitation.
Working with a specialist legal team who are offering their services pro bono, they aim to amass evidence that could support private prosecutions, civil claims or other legal proceedings against individuals for their failings.
Launching the bid on Monday, former police detective-turned-whistleblower Ms Oliver said misconduct in public office could be one of the offences being looked at to hold to account senior officials who “knowingly failed in their duty to protect children” against gangs or other cases of sex abuse.