Grooming Gangs’ independent inquiry has revealed the initial locations for specific local investigations.
Oldham, Bradford, Keighley, and London are the initial areas under scrutiny by the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, with more locations to be identified soon.
The £65 million probe aims to uncover the operations of grooming gangs and evaluate the responses of authorities such as police, councils, health services, social care services, and schools.
The inquiry will also assess whether areas like Telford, Rochdale, Oxford, and Rotherham have implemented the recommended changes following previous reviews on grooming gangs.
Last year, Oldham was designated for investigation, with ongoing evidence collection. In Bradford and Keighley, long-standing concerns raised by victims, survivors, campaigners, elected officials, and others will now be directly examined by the Inquiry.
In London, the inquiry will investigate the identification and response to group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse by grooming gangs, including connections with neighboring areas. It will consider ongoing work, including efforts by the London Assembly.
Simultaneously, the Inquiry is releasing its Victims and Survivors Charter, outlining the support victims and survivors will receive to share their experiences and influence the inquiry’s direction.
Any criminal evidence discovered will be forwarded to Operation Beaconport, the national police operation initiated last year to review previously closed investigations.
Baroness Anne Longfield, former children’s commissioner for England, leads the inquiry, equipped with legal authority to compel witnesses to testify and organizations to provide relevant documents.
Baroness Longfield stated: “The Inquiry’s objective is to investigate the systemic failure of the state in addressing and preventing abuse, hold accountable those who failed victims and survivors, and ascertain the reasons behind these failures.”
She added, “Our National Accountability Hearings will commence before the year ends. Despite numerous inquiries and recommendations made over the past two decades, many remain unimplemented. These hearings will help identify the responsibilities of national institutions in protecting children from harm and the progress made in investigated areas.”
“We are committed to ensuring that our efforts eliminate the need for future inquiries into grooming gangs.”
