January 2020. Dozens of children suspected of being groomed and abused by gangs of Asian men operating in “plain sight” were failed by police and local authorities, a report has concluded. Some victims of the “profound abuse” told carers and police officers about the sexual assaults, giving names and addresses. The report into child exploitation in Manchester found no action was taken. The 145-page report concluded: “The authorities knew that many were being subjected to the most profound abuse and exploitation but did not protect them from the perpetrators.” Authors Malcolm Newsam, a renowned child care expert, and Gary Ridgeway, a former detective superintendent with Cambridgeshire Police, added: “This is a depressingly familiar picture and has been seen in many other towns and cities across the country”. The report centres on Operation Augusta, set up in 2004, prompted by the death of 15-year-old Victoria, a girl under the care of Manchester City Council. Victoria reported being raped and injected with heroin by a 50-year-old Asian man. She died of a drugs overdose two months later on September 29, 2003. The police operation identified at least 57 victims and 97 potential suspects, some involved with Victoria. Detectives then established a “compelling picture of the systemic exploitation of looked after children in the care system”. Despite this, senior officers at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) chose to under-resource the investigation, the report said. It added that a decision was made to close it down which was then communicated to senior officers of Manchester City Council at a meeting later that day on April 22, 2005. Minutes of both meetings have disappeared. One officer’s note mentioned discussion of “press strategies” and several officials have chosen not to co-operate with the review. Its authors were also refused access to case files relating to Victoria held by the Manchester City Coroner. The report looked at a “sample” of cases from the time, detailing a series of allegations of rape and sexual abuse made by girls that were not followed up and with no further action taken by GMP or the council.
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