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Kate Whannel, a political reporter, has reported that Home Office minister Jess Phillips is anticipating more local inquiries into grooming gangs beyond the five that have already been announced. Phillips stated that additional details about these local inquiries will be provided once an audit examining the extent and nature of the issue is released. The audit, conducted by Baroness Louise Casey, was initially scheduled for completion in mid-April but is now set to be released in May. Phillips indicated that she will act based on the findings of the audit, despite not yet knowing what Baroness Casey will specifically highlight.
The lack of authority to compel individuals to provide evidence has been a point of contention regarding the inquiries, with Conservative Chris Philp expressing dissatisfaction and persistently advocating for a national inquiry instead. The shadow home secretary raised concerns about how to ensure that councils undertake inquiries, particularly in cases where local authorities are unwilling to do so, using Bradford council as an example. Earlier this year, Bradford Council’s Safeguarding Children Partnership dismissed the need for a new inquiry following an independent review in 2021, prompting Conservative MP Robbie Moore to accuse them of avoiding a thorough investigation for fear of unveiling significant issues.
For over a decade, notable cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by predominantly Pakistani men against mainly white girls have been a concern in the UK. In 2022, Prof Alexis Jay published the findings of a seven-year national inquiry encompassing child sexual abuse in various settings, including churches and schools, as well as grooming gangs. Interest in the topic was reignited earlier in the year when Elon Musk called for a second national inquiry, supported by opposition and Labour MPs. Although Home Secretary Yvette Cooper refrained from initiating a national inquiry, she announced an audit to evaluate the current extent and nature of gang-related exploitation, alongside allocating £5m for victim-centered local-led inquiries in Oldham and undisclosed regions.
During a recent update, Phillips affirmed the government’s commitment to embarking on the five announced inquiries and emphasized the importance of achieving substantial, tangible changes. Karen Bradley, a Conservative MP and chair of the Home Affairs Committee, inquired about the timeline for disclosing the locations for local inquiries and mechanisms to compel reluctant councils to participate. Phillips disclosed intentions to extend beyond the initially proposed five inquiries, emphasizing a factual-based approach that prioritizes addressing the needs of victims. The release of the inquiry framework is anticipated in May, concurrent with Baroness Casey’s review, which will inform future actions taken by the government
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