PA MediaAn abuse victim has resigned from the panel overseeing the national inquiry into grooming gangs, over fears of a conflict of interest with two potential chairs.
Fiona Goddard, who was abused by gangs of men while living in a children’s home in Bradford, said she was failed “multiple times” by social services and police.
She has left the victims and survivors liaison panel, citing concerns over the candidates shortlisted to chair the inquiry, one of whom is reportedly a former police chief and the other a social worker.
The Home Office said it was “committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in the summer there would be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, covering England and Wales, with Ms Goddard joining the panel overseeing the process.
But in a letter of resignation, she said another reason for leaving was the “condescending and controlling language used towards survivors”.
“This inquiry is supposed to be a public process and should have been conducted openly and transparently from the start,” she said.
PA Media“Survivors’ anonymity is obviously of utmost importance and they should be secure in knowing their personal details and opinions are confidential.
“The dynamics of this inquiry, including potential chairs and progress, should have been conducted openly and honestly by the government, and survivors should have had the choice to voice their opinions if they decided to.”
Ms Goddard said instead, there was “secretive conduct” and “conditions imposed on survivors has led to a toxic, fearful environment”.
She said of the selection of the potential chairs: “One has a background in policing and the other, a social worker.
“The very two services that contributed most to the cover-up of the national mass rape and trafficking of children.”
She said it was a “disturbing conflict of interest”.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.
“Any suggestion that this inquiry is being watered down is completely wrong – we are committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for.”
They added: “We are working urgently to appoint the best chair to take forward this work and deliver justice, putting victims and survivors at the heart of the process.
“We are grateful to all those who have shared their insights with us.
“We share the concerns around unhelpful speculation while this process is live – which is why we will not be providing a running commentary.”
Ms Goddard was one of two girls who were abused in 2008 while they lived at a children’s home.
The abuse came to light in 2014, when she saw a report on the grooming and the sexual abuse of hundreds of young girls in Rotherham, and contacted the BBC.
She gave evidence at a trial in 2019 which led to nine men who abused her as a child being jailed.
The nine were convicted of 22 offences including rape and inciting child prostitution and Ms Goddard waived her right to anonymity to speak to the press.
