Grooming gang inquiry suffers further setback

THE man thought to be the only remaining candidate to chair the national grooming gangs inquiry has withdrawn from the process, blaming people “using and abusing” their position for victims being “disrespected and misinformed”.

- CHRISTOPHER MCKEON AND DAVID HUGHES

Former police officer Jim Gamble has written to the Home Secretary to withdraw as a candidate to chair the grooming gang inquiry Paul Faith

Former police officer Jim Gamble also hit out at politicians prioritising “their own petty personal or political issues” and “playing games’ with the inquiry.

In his withdrawal letter, he said he had pulled out of the appointment process because of a “lack of confidence” in him among some survivors of grooming gangs “due to my previous occupation”.

He later criticised those “who have been mischief-making” by highlighting his former police career, saying it was “nonsense” to imply that he would align himself “with any political party to hide their blushes’.

Asked why he stepped back, Jim Gamble told Sky News: “I think the growing level of toxicity and the fact that in the midst of lots of misinformation, I think many of the victims and survivors were being disrespected and misinformed, and have a genuine feeling that some of that was about people using and abusing their position and influence with them.”

He accused people of “scaremongering” as he denied ever having come under pressure to change the scope of the probe.

“Everybody needs to park their own petty personal or political issues and focus on what's right for victims.

“In stepping back, I am trying to do that, but these other individuals need to stop playing games with this, because actually this is the opportunity of a lifetime.”