Maggie Oliver launches legal proceedings against government over child sex abuse - with help from Sacha Lord
The former GMP detective wants the government to implement all 20 recommendations from a 2022 report 'without further delay'
Maggie Oliver has launched legal proceedings against the government over a child sexual abuse report - with the help of Sacha Lord.
The former GMP detective turned whistleblower, who has spent decades helping grooming gangs victims across the country, is seeking a judicial review.
It comes three years after a major national report into child sexual abuse set out 20 recommendations.
Labour has committed to implementing them, but Ms Oliver hopes the legal action will mean it happens 'without further day'.
It follows the announcement that a new national inquiry into grooming gangs will be held after a U-turn from ministers last week.
Responding to the news, Ms Oliver questioned whether another inquiry would help, pointing to delays and inaction previously.
The last government commissioned an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in 2015 which took seven years to complete.
Professor Alexis Jay published her report with 20 recommendations in 2022 and Labour have committed to implementing them.
But Ms Oliver announced earlier this year she would be seeking a judicial review to make sure it happens.
In a post on social media this week, she thanked those who have donated to her campaign and helped to cover the legal costs.
This includes Mr Lord, the Parklife and Warehouse Project founder and former adviser to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
Mr Lord, who was the Labour mayor's night-time economy adviser, took the previous government to court over Covid rules.
He has since stepped down from the role after a £400,000 Covid grant issued to a company of which he was a director was withdrawn.
Explaining why he donated, Mr Lord said: "I’ve known about Maggie Oliver and the incredibly inspiring work she does, for years.
"I recently met Maggie for a coffee. I know I’ve lived a lucky life, but I couldn’t believe some of the stories she told me, some not in the public domain.
"We discussed my Judicial Review that I carried out on the Government during Lockdown. It was then that Maggie explained about her Judicial Review and the difference it could make.
"I’ve recently become a Dad and my son and every son and daughter, not just in Greater Manchester, but the UK, deserves to grow up safely.
"That's why I’m backing Maggie. If every city region had a Maggie Oliver, the UK would be a much better place."
Ms Oliver said that private individual donations, like the one made by Mr Lord, have made her legal action possible.
Sharing her gratitude on X, she wrote: "It’s so wrong that any private individual or charity has to do this, but we think it’s an important stand to make. This is why I’m ‘suspicious’ of yet another statutory enquiry, because I’ve seen what happened with the last one.
"I put my trust in that one, and look where it ended up - all the recommendations gathering dust on the shelf because successive governments have resisted implementing them. And that’s just WRONG!!!"
The Maggie Oliver Foundation has now issued a pre-action protocol letter to the government in relation to the judicial review.
The Home Office would not comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.