Yvette Cooper announces inquiries into grooming gangs


The United Kingdom’s Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has announced a series of measures aimed at tackling grooming gangs, including a nationwide review of evidence and five government-backed local inquiries. All of the latter would be led and controlled by each area’s local authority and would not have the powers necessary to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath. This has given rise to criticism from some quarters, who instead want a full national inquiry.

Ms Cooper, however, maintained that “effective local inquiries can delve into far more local detail and deliver more locally relevant answers, and change, than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide.” The government will work with local mayors and councils to “strengthen the accountability arrangements”, including introducing a “duty of candour”, requiring public servants to tell the truth. One of the key points of Prof Alexis Jay’s report – mandatory reporting – will be added to the Crime and Policing Bill.

Chris Philp, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, said that Cooper’s plan was “wholly inadequate,” and urged a full national inquiry, which is in line with criticisms voiced by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Ms Cooper also announced a three-month national audit led by Baroness Louise Casey that will examine the demographics of grooming gangs and their victims, as well as “cultural drivers” behind the offending. Additionally, she told the Commons that Chief Constables in England and Wales would look again at historic grooming cases where it would be appropriate.

Between 1997 and 2013, many towns and cities in the UK were plagued by gangs mostly of Pakistani origin that groomed, raped and trafficked children as young as eleven – an independent report by Professor Jay in 2014 estimated that 1,400 girls were abused alone in Rotherham. Recent public pressure led by Labour MPs caused the government to revisit existing evidence, although some of the survivors of such abuse feel their calls for a government-led inquiry into Oldham and other towns have not been adequately listened to

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