Inquiry into grooming gangs to investigate ethnicity and religion of offenders
The Home Secretary has announced a comprehensive inquiry into grooming gangs that will explicitly examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders, reports BritPanorama.
Shabana Mahmood stated this inquiry follows a series of grave failures that have seen children subjected to beatings, gang rapes, and in some instances, forced abortions. She emphasized that the state had “turned a blind eye” to these crimes while lacking significant national data on the matter.
During her address, Mahmood referenced a Government audit revealing that in certain local areas, there are “disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds” among the suspects. This raises serious questions about whether authorities avoided confronting issues of ethnicity and religion due to a “misplaced desire to protect community cohesion.”
Mahmood described a “moment of reckoning” for local authorities, affirming that they must address these failures openly. The inquiry is set to begin in March 2025 and will last for three years, with a budget of £65 million allocated to it.
The inquiry is to be led by former children’s commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield, alongside Zoe Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE, both of whom have established reputations in safeguarding and supporting victims of major tragedies. The inquiry will oversee a series of local investigations, each underpinned by a national panel with statutory powers.
Initial investigations will focus on Oldham, and it has been made clear that “no area will be able to resist a local investigation.” Any new evidence of criminal activity or cover-up will be promptly referred to police authorities to ensure accountability and justice for victims.
This announcement comes in the wake of prolonged delays and contentious debates about the inquiry’s scope. Two potential chairs resigned last October citing conflicts of interest, and several women from the victims’ liaison panel expressed concerns about efforts to dilute the inquiry’s focus on grooming gangs.
Kemi Badenoch, a senior Conservative leader, has called for a robust investigation that thoroughly explores the roles of ethnicity and religion. In parallel, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has urged for the deportation of foreign grooming gang members, insisting on the necessity to address citizenship for dual nationals involved in these crimes.
Philp has also warned of potential visa sanctions against Pakistan if it fails to facilitate the return of offenders. The government’s upcoming inquiry signifies a crucial step in confronting the complexities surrounding grooming gangs and aims to bring closure to the victims involved.
The approach taken in this inquiry reflects a broader societal reckoning with issues of accountability and the imperative to address systemic failings—a challenge not just for law enforcement but for society as a whole.
