Review team suspends work as police widen Rochdale abuse investigation

The QC leading an independent review team looking into historic child abuse allegations in Rochdale has agreed to suspend its work.

The move by Neil Garnham QC of 1 Crown Office Row followed a request from Greater Manchester Police.

Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of GMP, said: "Greater Manchester Police have been carrying out an assessment into how allegations of child abuse over several decades involving Knowl View care home in Rochdale have been handled.

"That assessment has now reached the stage where we believe a wider investigation is required. Due to the range of local and national bodies involved in the decisions made in the past, the force is now considering how the investigation should be taken forward.”

He added: "With this in mind Rochdale Council at the request of GMP has agreed to ask Neil Garnham QC to suspend his independent review until this matter is clarified and he has agreed to do so."

In a statement the independent review team said: “We would like to extend our thanks to all those who have assisted the review to date. We will remain in close contact with GMP and Mr Garnham will resume the review as soon as he is able.”

Rochdale initially instructed Andrew Warnock QC of 1 Chancery Lane to carry out the review of its decision-making over Knowl View School, a residential school for boys that closed in 1992.

When the council subsequently expanded the formal investigation and Warnock became unavailable for the revised timescale, the local authority appointed Garnham and fellow 1 COR barristers Alastair Henderson and Lois Williams.

It also appointed Katherine Sheldrick of Hempsons as independent solicitor to the revew. Jennifer Moss, a principal solicitor at Rochdale, was seconded for the duration of the investigation.

Garnham had been expected to provide a report (either final or interim) by the end of July.

Linda Fisher, acting chief executive at Rochdale Borough Council said: "In order not to interfere with any potential police investigation we have agreed to temporarily suspend our independent review. The council is determined to complete a thorough and transparent examination of the events when it is possible to do so.

“In the meantime, we await to hear how GMP's wider investigation will proceed. We also welcome the announcement by the Home Secretary Theresa May of an independent inquiry to look into historic cases of child sexual abuse."