Three grooming gang abuse victims have urged the West Yorkshire Mayor to support their call on the government to include Bradford in the national inquiry into the scandal.
Tracy Brabin has been urged to sign a letter sent to the Home Secretary from the victims, which is co-signed by Tory MP for Keighley and Ilkley Robbie Moore and leading solicitor David Greenwood.
Ms Brabin has come under heavy criticism from politicians and some victims in the Bradford District after she said that she would not be calling for an inquiry into the area.
In April, she said “I'm not going to call for an inquiry because we have had several numbers of inquiries across our region.
“The victims I have spoken to, what they want is justice - they don't want talking, they don't want politicians fighting amongst themselves, they want the people who did this put away.”
But calls for a review in Bradford have escalated with the letter, which has also been sent to all 90 Bradford District councillors, the Deputy Mayor and every MP representing the district.
The letter, which includes two unnamed victims who have a lifelong right to anonymity, said: “For decades, young people in our district have suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of grooming gangs.
Local survivor Fiona Goddard, leading child abuse solicitor David Greenwood, and Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore have sent a letter to all 90 Bradford District councillors, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, the Deputy Mayor and every MP representing the district
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“Families have been torn apart, survivors have been ignored or disbelieved, and many have been left without the answers they deserve. Despite this, Bradford has never had a full, independent inquiry into the scale of these crimes or the systemic failings that allowed them to happen.”
Brave survivor Fiona Goddard said: “Many grooming gang cases across the UK have links to Bradford, with children trafficked here from across the country.
“So by not having this area as a main focus in the national inquiry, we don’t just fail the victims here but survivors of grooming across the country.
“I ask our local councillors and MP’s to think about all those people who have already been massively failed and show overwhelming support for these calls.”
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Fiona Goddard is one of the few women in Bradford to have achieved successful convictions for gang abuse | GB NEWSRobbie Moore MP added: “In places like Rotherham, Telford and Oldham, it was survivor voices and cross-party pressure, including from elected officials who initially opposed an inquiry, that ultimately tipped the balance.
“We ask all elected officials to sign this letter and help deliver justice for those failed by all levels of the British state for far too long." The letter also boasts the authority of David Greenwood, one of the country’s leading child abuse compensation lawyers.
He has acted for abuse gang victims for over 30 years, with his team at Switalskis representing over 100 victims in Rotherham and beyond.
Mr Greenwood said: “Having worked for many survivors of child sexual exploitation in Bradford, I know the harm done to the girls (now women) involved. They deserve to know action is being taken.
“Unless we tackle exploitation together, Bradford’s name will be indelibly stained not only due by the abuse, but by the unwillingness of its council to face up to the extent of the problem, past failings and what’s needed for the future.”