Three senior officers suspended over handling of safeguarding case

Three senior officers at Bury Council, reported to include the chief executive and the monitoring officer, have been suspended pending an independent investigation into how the local authority handled an historic individual safeguarding case.

The suspension of three officers was confirmed by the council’s Human Resources and Appeals Panel.

Cllr Rishi Shori, Leader of the Council, said: “The council received allegations that there were failures to act appropriately in following safeguarding procedures in respect of an historic individual case. Given the importance of the issue we commissioned an external review, from childcare expert Malcolm Newsam CBE, into how the council dealt with the issue.”

He said the Panel’s decision followed receipt of the external review.

Cllr Shori added: “I must stress that the suspension of the three officers is a neutral act and will allow them to focus on responding to the investigation."

Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, Bury’s Executive Director for Communities and Well-being and Deputy Chief Executive, is to act as Interim Chief Executive until the investigation is concluded.

The council declined to identify the suspended officers. According to the Manchester Evening News, they include chief executive Mike Owen and monitoring officer Jayne Hammond.

The newspaper added that the historic safeguarding case related to a councillor who subsequently pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.