Reform UK demands answers on Dudley Council child exploitation report

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 16:15 · Archive

Reform UK councillors are demanding Dudley Council publish an investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations. The Reform group has written to the authority's chief executive, Balvinder Heran, expressing concern over allegations of offending reported by the BBC earlier this year and what action the council took to protect vulnerable young people.

The letter calls for the findings of a council investigation to be made available to elected members for scrutiny. In March, council leader Patrick Harley publicly referred to an investigation and indicated that officers' work could be concluded within a week or so. He also committed to dedicated scrutiny of the matter. Reform says this delay has occurred under his leadership and he should be held accountable for the council's response.

Reform is calling for circulation of the report, a timeline detailing who was aware of allegations and what action was taken, confirmation that action was taken to protect children at risk, and a commitment for the report to be considered by the appropriate scrutiny committee.

Cllr Harley said that exploitation of any nature is a serious crime, and that Dudley Council and the Dudley Safeguarding People Partnership is committed to taking every opportunity to prevent and tackle it. He stated that the partnership, which consists of the council, police, health and education sectors and a range of charities, meets regularly to discuss any concerns raised with a view to listening to these and acting upon them.

How it is being reported

• Reform demands council leader be held accountable for delayed child sex exploitation reportReform UK councillors are demanding to see a report on how Dudley Council handled allegations of child sexual exploitation.Birmingham World · 5 Nov, 15:31
• Reform demands council leader be held accountable for delayed child sex exploitation reportReform UK councillors are demanding to see a report on how Dudley Council handled allegations of child sexual exploitation.Express & Star · 5 Nov, 15:31
• Calls from Reform UK for answers from Dudley Council on child sex exploitation reportLeader facing demands to publish a report on child sexual exploitation after findings of March investigation still not publishedBirminghamLive · 5 Nov, 14:35

In this story: Reform UK · Dudley Council · Patrick Harley · Balvinder Heran · Dudley

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