Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable says force did not try to stop review of Operation Augusta being published

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable, Ian Hopkins, has "affirmed" his commitment to ensuring victims of Operation Augusta get justice.

In a statement, Mr Hopkins said that claims that Greater Manchester Police tried to stop a review, into the force's investigation of child sexual exploitation, from being published could not be "further from the truth".

He was speaking after a review, published yesterday, said thatpolice had "failed" child sex abuse victims.

He said: "There have been claims that Greater Manchester Police has tried to stop the review of Operation Augusta being published. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"Contrary to these reports, we have cooperated fully with the review team and acted with transparency and integrity throughout.

"At no time has there been any effort from us to prevent the publication of the report and any suggestion that states otherwise is categorically untrue.

"On 15 January 2018, I attended a meeting with Deputy Mayor Beverley Hughes and Malcolm Newsam, one of the independent reviewers, along with legal representatives.

"At this meeting, I personally cut through the issues around sharing victims data with Malcolm Newsam to ensure there was no delay to the start of the review.

"As a result of the actions at this meeting, I signed on behalf of GMP the data-sharing agreement."

A new criminal investigation into the case has now been opened and GMP apologised to the victims yesterday.

Chief Constable Hopkins full statement can be readhere.