The statutory independent inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales has officially launched, with a mandate to directly examine whether ethnicity, culture, or religion played a role in offending and shaped the institutional response to child sexual exploitation. Chaired by Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner for England, the inquiry will have the legal authority to compel witnesses and demand documents from organisations.
Scope and Powers of the Investigation
The inquiry's terms of reference, set to be presented to parliament on 13 April, outline a comprehensive investigation into group-based sexual exploitation of children. It will scrutinise how grooming gangs operated and evaluate the responses of key institutions, including police forces, local authorities, health services, social care providers, and educational establishments. Any evidence of criminal conduct by professionals uncovered during the inquiry will be referred to Operation Beaconport, the national policing operation established last year to review hundreds of previously closed cases.
Local Investigations and Public Engagement
Local investigations will be conducted in areas where serious failures in addressing child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs have been identified, with Oldham confirmed as one of the initial locations. The inquiry will hold public hearings, which will be livestreamed, and transcripts will be published after each session. Findings will be released progressively rather than being withheld until a final report, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process.
Leadership and Statements
Anne Longfield emphasised the inquiry's commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths, stating: "We will follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will not flinch from uncomfortable truths." She highlighted that victims and survivors have often been disbelieved or dismissed, and the inquiry aims to address this reality by publishing findings as they emerge, preventing institutions from managing outcomes quietly.
Longfield will be supported by panellists Zoë Billingham, a former HM inspector of constabulary and fire and rescue services, and Eleanor Kelly, a former chief executive of Southwark council. The inquiry has a maximum duration of three years, concluding no later than March 2029, and is allocated a budget of £65 million.
Political Responses and Background
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the grooming gangs scandal as "one of the darkest moments in our country's history," emphasising that the inquiry will be laser-focused on examining the roles of ethnicity, religion, and culture. Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the strengthened terms of reference, noting that initial drafts lacked provisions to investigate ethnicity and religion or hold authorities accountable, and she pledged continued collaboration with survivors.
The inquiry was established in response to recommendations from Louise Casey's national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, which identified systemic failures and institutional paralysis that allowed grooming gangs to operate unchecked for years.
