Council leaders and senior politicians in Rochdale must stop ‘dumping' on hard-pressed officers and take responsibility for tackling child abuse, a leading lawyer has told The MJ.

Richard Scorer, who has represented victims at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), this week criticised those elected members in Rochdale who appeared more concerned with protecting their reputations than acting in the best interests of child abuse survivors, town hall staff and the community.