Whistleblower ‘forced out by council’ after child sex claims
A COUNCIL boss has claimed she was forced out after raising concerns about suspected grooming and sexual exploitation of underage girls.
Maggie Siviter, a former child safeguarding lead at North Somerset Council, claimed that authorities failed to act after she warned that licensed premises were suspected of being used to groom vulnerable young girls.
Speaking at her employment tribunal, she said she was “mindful” of the situation that emerged in Rotherham, where child sex abuse by predominantly British-pakistani men continued for years, unchallenged by authorities.
Ms Siviter told Pontypridd County Court that she had concerns about the influence of Cllr Peter Bryant on the council’s willingness to investigate her claims. She claimed Cllr Bryant was an acquaintance of some of the local businessmen accused of owning premises where child sexual exploitation was suspected to have taken place.
Ms Siviter said her dismissal from North Somerset Council in November 2015 – after just six months in the post – was “retaliation” for making disclosures to Ofsted, the watchdog for children and young people in care.
She convened a series of council strategy meetings about the suspected grooming of vulnerable girls, but escalated her concerns to Ofsted after she realised that no risk assessments had been carried out, despite her warnings.
The girls – one of whom was in care, and one who was previously in care – were suspected of being sexually exploited at Butterfly’s massage parlour, and an Indian restaurant in Westonsuper-mare.
Suspicions were first raised by Julian Feltwell, a council official who was investigating premises owned by local restaurateur Alkas Hussain for supplying counterfeit tobacco, the tribunal heard.
“There was the suspicion [that] tobacco was being used to groom and reward children for possible child sexual exploitation,” said Mr Feltwell, an assistant manager of community and consumer services at North Somerset Council.
“I became aware employees of one businessman in question resided in a house of multiple occupancy owned by Cllr Bryant.”
Mr Feltwell said that Cllr Bryant was connected to another businessman who he said was “previously suspected of allowing young girls on to his licensed premises where the suspicion was that they were being groomed”.
Mr Feltwell told the tribunal that Cllr Bryant had provided a character reference for the businessman when he stood trial for pulling a shotgun on a council bailiff who was collecting unpaid council tax.
The businessman later served a prison sentence for the offence.
Ms Siviter told the tribunal that she found it “concerning” that Cllr Bryant “had connections with those who we’d discussed as being potentially harmful to children”, adding: “There were concerns the behaviour of an elected member was affecting the safeguarding of children at risk of sexual exploitation.”
Ms Siviter called three multi-agency strategy meetings between August and October 2015 to discuss intelligence about the suspected child sexual exploitation. She convened the second meeting after it came to light that children had been working at the massage parlour in Weston-super-mare.
“One girl said she had worked there for 18 months and made allegations that she had been forced to have sex with men,” she told the tribunal.
Ms Siviter said she contacted Ofsted after the third meeting, when she felt her pleas to the council to investigate the matter were falling on deaf ears.
“The quality of the service provided to children was severely compromised. I later disclosed to a colleague I’d made a whistleblowing statement,” she said.
Tony Oliver, chairman of North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board, described one of the meetings as “based on rumours and speculation”.
The tribunal continues this week.