Sir Keir Starmer Faces Pressure to Launch Grooming Gang Inquiry as Expert Demands Action
Starmer pressed to launch grooming gangs inquiry

Downing Street is facing mounting pressure to initiate a comprehensive statutory inquiry into the handling of grooming gang cases across England, with leading child protection expert Jim Gamble delivering a powerful appeal directly to Sir Keir Starmer.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent, Mr Gamble emphasised that establishing such an inquiry represents not just a political necessity but a moral imperative for the new government. The former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has written to the Prime Minister urging immediate action.

Systemic Failures Demand National Response

Mr Gamble stressed that the inquiry must examine why numerous police forces and local authorities repeatedly failed to protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation over many years. "This isn't about attributing blame to individual officers or council workers," he explained, "but about understanding the systemic failures that allowed this abuse to persist."

The call comes amid growing concerns that despite high-profile cases in Rotherham, Rochdale, and other towns, the full scale of institutional failings has never been properly investigated at a national level.

A Political and Moral Crossroads

Mr Gamble warned that the government's response to this issue would define its commitment to child protection. "The Prime Minister now has an opportunity to demonstrate that protecting children is beyond party politics," he stated.

The child safety expert, who currently chairs the Child Protection Delivery Unit, argued that previous investigations have been too limited in scope and that only a statutory inquiry with proper powers can uncover the truth.

Learning from Past Mistakes

Several cities and towns across England have been scarred by grooming gang scandals where vulnerable children, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, were systematically abused while authorities failed to intervene effectively.

Mr Gamble's intervention signals that despite some improvements in child protection practices, many experts believe fundamental questions about institutional failings remain unanswered.

The government has yet to formally respond to the calls for a statutory inquiry, but sources suggest the matter is receiving serious consideration at the highest levels.