The independent inquiry into grooming gangs has been widened to include London, Oldham, Bradford, and Keighley, as investigators seek to uncover systemic failures by police and local authorities that allowed child sexual exploitation to persist for decades.
Scope of the Expanded Inquiry
Announced on Thursday, the expansion adds four new geographical areas to the probe, which was originally focused on Rotherham and other parts of South Yorkshire. The inquiry, chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, will now scrutinise how institutions in these locations responded to allegations of grooming gangs, which predominantly targeted vulnerable white girls.
According to the inquiry's terms of reference, the investigation will examine the period from 1990 to the present day, looking at the effectiveness of police investigations, the role of children's services, and whether political or cultural sensitivities hindered prosecutions.
Key Findings from Previous Reports
Professor Jay's earlier report into Rotherham, published in 2014, estimated that at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited in the town between 1997 and 2013. It found that authorities failed to protect victims, often dismissing them as 'making choices' or as 'prostitutes'. The inquiry's expansion follows mounting pressure from victims' groups and politicians to investigate other towns and cities where similar patterns of abuse have been alleged.
In Oldham, a 2022 report by the local safeguarding children partnership identified 98 victims of child sexual exploitation between 2015 and 2020, but campaigners say the true number is likely much higher. Bradford has faced scrutiny after multiple convictions of grooming gangs in recent years, while in Keighley, a 2020 review found that police missed opportunities to stop abusers.
Political and Public Reaction
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the expansion, stating: "Survivors have waited far too long for justice. This inquiry must now get to the truth, without delay, and ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated." She added that the government would provide additional funding to support the inquiry's work.
However, some victims' advocates expressed concern that the inquiry's scope remains too narrow. Maggie Oliver, a former police officer turned campaigner, said: "We need a national inquiry, not a piecemeal approach. Grooming gangs operated in many more places than these four."
Next Steps and Timeline
The inquiry is expected to begin hearings in the new year, with a final report due within three years. It will have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and to recommend changes to legislation and policing practices. The Home Office confirmed that the inquiry's budget has been increased to £20m to cover the expanded remit.
