Survivor quits grooming gangs inquiry after citing 'toxic' culture and broken trust

Fiona Goddard, who was abused by an organised street gang in Bradford, stepped down from the inquiry on Monday.

She had been enlisted to sit on the victims survivor liasion panel but opposed the two potential candidates shortlisted to become the chair, one of who is reportedly former police chief Jim Gamble and the other social worker Annie Hudson.

In her resignation letter, seen by Sky News, Ms Goddard said they come from the two industries who "contributed most" to the cover-up of abuse against children.

Read more: Starmer urged to open inquiry into scale of harm from online suicide forums

Read more: What route could Putin take to go to the summit in Hungary for talks with Donald Trump?

Sir Keir Starmer announced a full national statutory inquiry into the gangs in the summer, covering England and Wales.

In an email, Ms Goddard wrote: "One has a background in police and the other, a social worker.

"The very two services that contributed most to the cover-up of the national mass rape and trafficking of children.

"This is a disturbing conflict of interest, and I fear the lack of trust in services from years of failings and corruption will have a negative impact in survivor engagement with this inquiry."

Ms Goddard was one of two girls abused in 2008 by a gang of men mainly of Pakistani origin and waived her legal right to lifelong anonymity.

In 2019, nine men were found guilty of offences including rape and inciting child prostitution after a trial lasting more than six weeks.

Her e-mail added: "I'm further concerned by the condescending and controlling language used towards survivors throughout this process who have had to fight every day just to be believed, and I think they deserve more respect than they have received."

In response, the Home Office said any suggestion the inquiry was being "watered down" is "completely wrong."

A full statement read: "The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.

"Any suggestion that this inquiry is being watered down is completely wrong - we are committed to delivering a robust, thorough inquiry that will get to the truth and provide the answers that survivors have so long campaigned for.

"We are working urgently to appoint the best chair to take forward this work and deliver justice, putting victims and survivors at the heart of the process.

"We are grateful to all those who have shared their insights with us."We share the concerns around unhelpful speculation while this process is live - which is why we will not be providing a running commentary."