A Woman who was groomed by dozens of men as a teenager urged Bradford Council to push for the district to be the centre of a national grooming gang enquiry.
Fiona Goddard was just 14 and living in a Bradford children’s home when her horrific abuse began in the late 2000s.
In recent years she has waived the anonymity she was granted as a sexual abuse victim and has campaigned for more work to be done to expose those who were responsible for, and who allowed, grooming and sexual abuse of young people to happen.
On Tuesday evening Miss Goddard presented a petition to Bradford Council asking the Council to “volunteer itself for a targeted grooming gangs inquiry as part of the upcoming National Inquiry.”
Over 5,000 people had signed the petition.
Speaking at the meeting, Miss Goddard said: “Some of you will know exactly what I’ve endured, and I’m not the only one. There are so many more like me.
“I’m here to ask you to do something very significant and request that Bradford be selected for a targeted grooming gang enquiry and for the District to be placed at the heart of a National enquiry.”
She pointed out she had written to all 90 Bradford Councillors last year to do the same, but only had responses from 21 Councillors.
Miss Goddard said Council bosses had told her that they were willing to take part in any enquiry. She said: “Taking part isn’t the same as asking for one.
“Please don’t repeat those words to me again today. We’re not asking for willingness, we’re asking for leadership.
“Bradford has long been known to have serious and significant problems with grooming gangs.”
She said the issue had previously been dismissed over concerns that it would raise community tensions.
Miss Goddard pointed out that nine men had been convicted of her abuse, but there were many more that had not faced justice. She said: “Between 50 and 100 men abused me, and I’m certain their abuse didn’t stop with me.”
She said previous reviews had found “catastrophic failings” in the agencies that should have protected her as a vulnerable child.
She concluded: “Experts say Bradford could have one of the largest grooming gang problems in the UK. Don’t make the mistakes of the past, don’t wait for an enquiry to be forced upon you.”
Councillors gave Miss Goddard a standing ovation.
Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe thanked her for attending, saying: “It is not an easy thing to do. You have already shown great bravery lifting your anonymity and it can’t be easy to re-tell the events.
“We’ve said before we’re all deeply sorry for what happened to you. Agencies at the time that should have protected you didn’t.
“Child Sexual Exploitation is a terrible, terrible crime, and has long lasting, life long impacts on victims. Group based violence is horrific and brutal and the perpetrators are evil.
“We have already done what this petition is asking for. In June we wrote to the Home Secretary saying Bradford will play its part in a national enquiry.
“The Home Office said it will be up to the Chair of the enquiry, not politicians, to decide where will be included. We asked for a meeting with the chair and now they have been appointed we’ve written to them.”
She said there had been numerous reports looking into CSE in Bradford.
Cllr Hinchcliffe added: “There has been a huge change in how these crimes are being dealt with. 20 years ago some people said these young people had agency over what they were involved in. it is obvious they didn’t.
“Bradford has nothing to hide.”
She pointed out that both Labour and the Conservatives had been in charge during the periods grooming took place.
Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservatives in Bradford, described Miss Goddard and “amazing woman” adding: “Fiona shouldn’t have to bring a petition demanding that Bradford District be targeted by the enquiry.
“There are so many questions that need answering.”
Cllr Poulsen said as well as Bradford victims, many grooming victims from other areas had reported being passed through Bradford.
Referring to the Labour Group, she said: “Why won’t you do the right thing? If Bradford being the centre of an enquiry would bring more victims forward, why would you not be demanding they come here?”
Councillor Jeanette Sunderland of the Liberal Democrats said: “This doesn’t need to be a political football – the focus just needs to be on getting this done.”
The petition will be heard again by the Council’s Executive at a future date.
