OLDHAM INDEPENDENT REVIEW MEDIA BRIEFING MONDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER

Following the meeting of the Oldham Independent Review panel on Monday, 3 September, chair David Ritchie held a media briefing.

The key points raised by Mr Ritchie at the briefing were as follows:

To date, 559 residents have visited, phoned or written in with their views to the drop-in centre. People visiting the drop-in centre can arrange to have interviews in private if they prefer, or with interpreters if they contact the drop-in centre in advance. The panel members are pleased with the level of response. We are asking everyone we interview to give us three practical suggestions to help set out a way forward. Many people have welcomed the chance to have this direct say - some are telling us that they feel that this is the first chance they have had to air their views.

However the drop-in centre is only one part of our work. All the panel members have been out interviewing representatives of organisations (including the council, the police and health primary care providers), community groups and other bodies to discuss issues. Now that schools are returning from the summer holidays, we will be making contact with head teachers to discuss their views.

The panel has an open mind to the way forward for Oldham. No one sector, such as housing or education, could by itself provide the programme of action to ensure a harmonious future for all of Oldham. Any solution must involve a wide range of sectors. While we have received lots of information, the panel is analysing it effectively and reaching to the underlying issues. I have been very impressed with the initial handling of the issues by the panel, and I am confident that we can provide a high quality report and programme of action. We accept that you cannot turn deep-seated problems round in five minutes and the programme of action must involve both short-term and long-term measures.

The timescale of the review is now: September - gathering information; October - gathering information and brainstorming for the report; November - initial stages of report drafting; December - publication. The report is due to be published before the end of December, and we are on track for this.

The panel will be meeting every fortnight, and each meeting will be followed by a media briefing.

There are four ways for people to contact the panel with their views:

• Visit the drop-in centre on the upper mall of the Spindles, next to Debenhams, which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays;
• Call the drop-in centre on 0161 785 9347;
• Write to the panel at:
  Oldham Independent Review,
  Unit 48,
  Upper Mall,
  The Spindles Shopping Centre,
  Oldham
  OL1 1HD
• By emailing: oldham.independent.review@oldhamir.org.uk

ENDS

Note to Editors

1. The independent panel was set up at the instigation of the Home Office and will report to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester Police and the Greater Manchester Police Authority. Its report is due by the end of December 2001 and will consider the causes of the disturbances in Oldham and set out a programme of action for the future.