The background to this case is the fall out from what the judge called the "Rochdale grooming case".   The events that occurred prompted an understandable process of soul searching by the Council and the other agencies involved. 

Jim Taylor took over as Chief Executive in May 2012 and both he and Councillor Colin Lambert, who became Leader of the Council in January 2011, gave evidence to the Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee.  Councillor Lambeth told the Committee on the 12 June 2012 that there was a need for legislative change.