The Government has announced that Baroness Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner, will lead a new £65 million national inquiry into child sexual abuse by grooming gangs. This comprehensive investigation aims to uncover past failures and hold offenders accountable. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that the inquiry will “shine a bright light” on these issues, ensuring that perpetrators “have nowhere to hide.”
Uniquely, the inquiry will examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders as key factors in the investigation. The Government has set an ambitious target to complete the inquiry and publish its findings within three years, underscoring the urgent need for justice and prevention measures to protect vulnerable children.