On the one hand, this integration “was a brilliant system. It worked very well”, he says, adding: “If you needed someone to get you into organisations, it just opened a few back doors.”

But there was a dark side to this relationship, Jones continued.

“The mayors and other elected people at that time were very influential over what was happening in the police. They would put a lot of pressure on the commanders and the chiefs, and certainly, the Muslim ear would get a greater listen to. If they ever want anything, it would be immediate. They [the police] didn’t want any flack from councillors.”

The retired officer added: “We always say the police are independent of political intrusion, but they’re not.”

Although Jones accepts lessons have been learned, he agrees with Lam’s assertion that the influence of local councillors on the grooming gangs scandal has never been addressed and that the problem is not confined to Rotherham.

Given that council and police forces are co-located across the country, Jones tells GB News that he’s “quite sure” this close relationship is routinely abused, adding: “It would be normal practice.”

GB News has identified several schemes that aim to integrate different public services in the name of efficiency. One of the most high-profile is the Public Estate (OPE) initiative, which was set up in 2013.

The OPE is a national programme that aims to “break down historical barriers to get the best use of public land and property”.

To this end, the initiative focuses on collaboration between public sector bodies, including police and councils.

The OPE’s official launch document laid out a specific plan for this in Portsmouth.

“Some significant transfers of property are taking place in Portsmouth between different parts of the public sector, but one of the most iconic may prove to be between the police and the city council, who are exploring a number of possibilities. Sharing space between uniformed and other services could show very visibly how they can work together and buildings can be used more efficiently.”

The initiative has since supported over 800 projects nationwide, spanning 98 per cent of English councils, 12 government departments, and numerous public sector stakeholders.

There are 14 “strategic OPE partnerships” in London alone.

The retired officer accepts that schemes such as the OPE were designed with the best intentions but are liable to be abused.

Citing the corrosive influence politicians had on the criminal investigations into the grooming gangs in Rotherham as an example, he told GB News: “In my own experience, politicians manipulate the police for their own gain. They always mention police independence when it gets sticky but they know what they are doing.”

When GB News put these claims to the police, Detective Superintendent Pete Quinn, South Yorkshire Police’s strategic lead for Child Safeguarding, said: “There never has and there never will be a good reason for failing to properly investigate child sexual exploitation. Whilst the abuse of young people in Rotherham in the late 90s and early 00s will always be of profound regret to South Yorkshire Police, it was the beginning of an improved future – a future of independent and national oversight.

“Reports of CSE in our region have long since been investigated by dedicated local multi-agency teams but our approach is now subject to structured governance by force leads and external bodies to ensure we are preparing, preventing, protecting, and pursuing in line with best practice and, crucially, without fear or favour.”

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council told GB News: “Over the last ten years, the Council has been committed to listening to the voice and lived experience of victims and survivors in order to drive forward improvements.

“Children’s Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham has been subject to 10 investigations, including the Jay Report by Professor Alexis Jay, Operation Stovewood, and several independent inquiries the Council has commissioned. The Council is continuing to work with the National Crime Agency and other partners to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

“Anyone with information relating to criminal activity which may assist those investigations into child sex offences is urged to come forward and provide this to the NCA or South Yorkshire Police.”

GB News has reached out to the Home Office for comment.