A report into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Oldham was published on Monday, June 20, more than two and a half years after it was commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham and Deputy Mayor Baroness Beverley Hughes.

The work is one part of a review into the response of the authorities to CSE across the region, which itself commenced almost five years ago, and included Oldham in its scope at a later date.

The report's authors, children's services expert Malcolm Newsam and ex-detective superintendent Gary Ridgway, were asked to consider a number of allegations and the response to them by Oldham Council, as well as its partner agencies including GMP and the NHS. 

Specifically, the work is concerned with allegations on social media about children's homes, shisha establishments and taxi services, and their use to access children for the purposes of sexual exploitation between 2011 and 2014.

But it is also concerned with a number of other cases, including the cases of offenders once employed by Oldham Council.

The report's publication was pushed back on a number of occasions due to coronavirus, legal issues and the emergence of extra evidence earlier this year, but it is now available for all to read.

Here is a timeline of events up to the report's publication on Monday, June 20.

September 2017

Mr Burnham and Baroness Hughes commence 'an independent assurance review of the effectiveness of multi-agency responses in Greater Manchester'. 

This is in response to issues raised about investigations into CSE in South Manchester and Rochdale. The review does not include Oldham in its scope.

November 2019

The then leader of Oldham Council Sean Fielding and chair of Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership Henri Giller write to Mr Burnham to ask for Oldham to be included in the review.

It comes after the leader of another review commissioned by Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership, Dr Mark Peel, stepped down before it started.

January 2020

Mr Newsam and Mr Ridgway publish a report in relation to South Manchester.

It highlights a number of shortcomings in the response of the authorities to CSE, in particular GMP's Operation Augusta.

July 2021 

The then leader of Oldham Council Arooj Shah tells councillors the report in relation to Oldham is still months from publication.

Ms Shah suggests to councillors it might be available from the autumn.

November 2021

At a 'Question Time' event in Oldham, Mr Burnham tells residents the report was due to be available in November 2021. 

He explains it is delayed to January 2022 due to coronavirus and legal issues.

January 2022

A passage from the report leaked to The Sunday Mirror condemns the response of Oldham Council and GMP to the rape of a girl. 

But days later, it is delayed again as some significant evidence emerges.

March 2022

The report is delayed again as even more significant evidence emerges.

April 2022

Mr Newsam tells Mr Burnham to expect the report before the end of June.

June 2022

Oldham Council leader Amanda Chadderton confirms the report is still due before the end of June. It is then published on June 20.