Former Detective Maggie Oliver Slams Grooming Gang Report as ‘Smoke Screen’, Calls for Action on Child Sexual Abuse

In a concerned critique of a recent report on grooming gangs, former Greater Manchester Police detective and child abuse campaigner Maggie Oliver has labelled the findings as a, “smoke screen”, that fails to address ongoing issues related to child sexual exploitation. Her comments came during an appearance on BBC Radio 4, coinciding with the publication of findings commissioned by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

The report, part of a four-part review into historical child sexual exploitation in Manchester, Oldham, and Rochdale, suggests that local authorities have learned from past failures and that current practices in dealing with such cases are significantly improved. According to inspections conducted by the police inspectorate and Ofsted, the systems in place now are reportedly, “demonstrably different and far stronger”, than those that allowed previous abuses to occur.

However, Ms. Oliver, who resigned from GMP over the handling of grooming gangs, sharply contested these claims. Having played an instrumental role in past investigations—including the Operation August review—Oliver raised serious concerns about the efficacy of current measures in protecting vulnerable children.

She cited the case of a victim connected to Operation Green Jacket, who identified her abuser four years ago but is still awaiting justice.

Oliver’s discontent is echoed by the resignation of independent experts last month, who left the review citing issues related to data sharing and concerns about the handling of sensitive information. This prompted Oliver to underline that despite some improvements in processes and policies, victims are still being failed today.

At a press conference held the same morning, Greater Manchester’s Chief Constable Stephen Watson reiterated the force's commitment to pursuing perpetrators of child sexual exploitation.

Deputy Mayor Kate Green expressed solidarity with Oliver’s views, assuring that every child in Greater Manchester who experiences abuse will be listened to and protected.

As the conversation surrounding child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester continues, the pressure mounts for authorities to act decisively in support of survivors and ensure that such grave injustices never recur.