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The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, revealed that the force is currently investigating numerous cases of group-based child sexual abuse that may be categorized under what is commonly referred to as grooming gangs. An initial search of data uncovered approximately 9,000 historic cases in London potentially fitting a broad national definition of group-related sexual offending. However, after detailed examination of around 2,200 of these cases, only about 1,200 remained relevant to this scope, indicating a significant narrowing of the figures.
Sir Mark cautioned against the simplistic use of the term “grooming gangs,” emphasizing that child sexual abuse takes many forms beyond group offending, including abuse within families, institutions, peer-related incidents, and online exploitation. He also highlighted the diverse ethnic backgrounds of suspects, reflecting the multicultural makeup of the city. The commissioner pointed out that the broader national definition used for this audit differs markedly from the public’s narrower perception of grooming gangs, as it encompasses a wide range of abusive contexts such as intra-familial and institutional abuse alongside peer-to-peer and online offences.
During a London Assembly meeting, Sir Mark elaborated on the findings of the ongoing national review of child exploitation cases, criticizing the widespread misinterpretation of the initial data as evidence of 9,000 grooming gang incidents specifically. This misunderstanding, he warned, had contributed to unbalanced media reporting. He further explained that, following the current assessment phase, the Metropolitan Police anticipates that perhaps 2,000 to 3,000 cases could be suited for possible reinvestigation, still spanning various types of offending rather than solely group-based grooming.
In the same session, the London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was challenged by Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservative group, over his previous remarks where he appeared to downplay the existence of grooming gangs in the capital. Ms. Hall accused the mayor of dismissing concerns about such gangs and of showing insensitivity to victims by seemingly mocking questions on the subject. In response, Sir Sadiq clarified his definition of grooming gangs as per the national inquiry set up by the Prime Minister and highlighted the ongoing efforts and support provided for victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse in London. He acknowledged the issues faced by the city but stressed that they differ in nature from those observed elsewhere in the country, adding that he has actively worked to improve safeguards for vulnerable children
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