Council booed during grooming gang inquiry debate

There were heated exchanges as councillors debated calls for Blackpool to be part of a national inquiry into child grooming gangs.

Despite warning the resort has many of the risks associated with child sexual exploitation, Conservative group leader councillor Paul Galley failed to get a notice of motion passed.

Mr Galley had submitted a motion to a meeting of the full council urging for a letter to be written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper asking for a national inquiry, with Blackpool included.

Members of the Justice for Charlene Downes campaign group booed and unfurled banners which said Break the Silence on Child Abuse as his notice of motion was thrown.

The ruling Labour group instead voted for an amendment welcoming the government's decision to implement the recommendations made by the Jay Report, following a seven year inquiry into child sex abuse.

Councillor Jim Hobson, cabinet member for children's services, said the outcome of an inspection into child safeguarding had been received, which praised the council's response to children at risk of exploitation.

But Mr Galley told the meeting child grooming gangs potentially operated from hotels and amusement arcades and warned "Blackpool should have a voice" in any future inquiry which needed to cover links to coastal towns.

Conservative group deputy leader councillor Michele Scott added: "We have all seen the reports of vile crimes against children. We have heard how this is a far greater problem in our society and far more widespread than any of us could have imagined."

She said a child in her own ward had recently been targeted by an online groomer and was saved only due to the vigilance of their family, while the police had recently sent text messages to residents warning them of the risks of grooming and county lines.

Councillors including councillor Jim O'Neill from Reform UK said the recommendations of the Jay Report should be implemented at the same time as a new national inquiry was held.

But the Labour group said Blackpool had been successfully tackling the risk of child sexual exploitation in the town since 2004 when the multi-agency Awaken task force had been set up following the disappearance of 14-year-old schoolgirl Charlene Downes.

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