Spectator (UK)

Grooming gangs inquiry is welcome, but too late

Metaculus

Nigel Farage

Richard Tice

The UK Government

Chris Philp

Lee Anderson

Lucy Moreton

Lee Harris

Patrick Christys

Allison Pearson

Bob Blackman

"Starmer has no intention of stopping the boats."

Starmer's "track record, Labour's track record, the Home Secretary's track record and their actions here in Britain suggest there is no desire, or plan, to actually stop the boats."

"The boats will come, and numbers are likely to continue rising."

Starmer is "on track to smash the record for small boat crossings, with numbers up 44%."

"Labour has no intention of doing this [reducing small boat crossings], and Martin Hewitt is the perfect example of their lack of action."

"It [small boat crossings] is 38% worse than the previous worst year, so things are getting worse, not better."

"It [reduction in small boat crossings] can be done if there's the political will."

"[W]e will stop at nothing to dismantle their [people-smuggling gangs] business models [illegal small boat crossings] and bring them to justice."

Will Labour Reduce Small Boat Crossings in the English Channel?

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a full statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs after accepting recommendations from Baroness Louise Casey's audit on group-based child sexual exploitation, reversing his previous position against such an inquiry.

the Guardian

GB News

GOV.UK

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a full statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs after accepting recommendations from Baroness Louise Casey's audit on group-based child sexual exploitation, reversing his previous position against such an inquiry.

Baroness Casey's 200-page report found evidence of institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation, with a "collective failure to address questions about the ethnicity of grooming gangs" since at least 2009.

Baroness Casey's 200-page report found evidence of institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation, with a "collective failure to address questions about the ethnicity of grooming gangs" since at least 2009.

The Casey audit, ordered in January this year, found that there to be data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though local police data showed disproportionate numbers of men from Pakistani and Asian ethnic backgrounds among suspects.

The Casey audit, ordered in January this year, found that there to be data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though local police data showed disproportionate numbers of men from Pakistani and Asian ethnic backgrounds among suspects.

The government accepted all 12 recommendations from Casey's report, including changing the law so adults who penetrate children under 16 face mandatory rape charges and launching a National Crime Agency-led criminal operation.</span

The government accepted all 12 recommendations from Casey's report, including changing the law so adults who penetrate children under 16 face mandatory rape charges and launching a National Crime Agency-led criminal operation.

The new inquiry will coordinate targeted local investigations with statutory powers to compel witnesses and evidence, focusing on areas where councils and police forces failed to protect children from exploitation.</span

BBC News

The Telegraph

The new inquiry will coordinate targeted local investigations with statutory powers to compel witnesses and evidence, focusing on areas where councils and police forces failed to protect children from exploitation.

In January, the government voted against a Conservative amendment calling for a national inquiry. Starmer held the role of head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008-13, and his tenure was described by a Home Affairs Committee in 2013 as a "model... in tackling localized grooming."

hansard.parliament.uk

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In January, the government voted against a Conservative amendment calling for a national inquiry. Starmer held the role of head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008-13, and his tenure was described by a Home Affairs Committee in 2013 as a "model... in tackling localized grooming."

Spectator (UK) #1

Metaculus #0

Baroness Casey's 200-page report found evidence of institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation, with victims being "institutionally ignored for fear of racism" according to leaked details of the audit.</span

Daily Mirror

Daily Mirror #

The Telegraph #

Baroness Casey's 200-page report found evidence of institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation, with victims being "institutionally ignored for fear of racism" according to leaked details of the audit.

The Casey audit revealed significant data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though local police data showed disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds among suspects.</span

GOV.UK #

The Casey audit revealed significant data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though local police data showed disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds among suspects.

GB News #

BBC News #

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Starmer's reversal as coming too late, while Reform UK's Nigel Farage credited Elon Musk's social media campaign for pressuring the government into action on the inquiry.</span

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Starmer's reversal as coming too late, while Reform UK's Nigel Farage credited Elon Musk's social media campaign for pressuring the government into action on the inquiry.

While any inquiry into child sexual exploitation is welcome, this appears to be a politically motivated response to far-right pressure rather than genuine concern for victims. The focus on ethnicity risks stigmatizing entire communities when child sexual abuse occurs across all demographics and backgrounds. Previous inquiries have already examined these issues extensively, and resources would be better spent on implementing existing recommendations rather than launching another lengthy investigation.

While any inquiry into child sexual exploitation is welcome, this appears to be a politically motivated response to far-right pressure rather than genuine concern for victims. The focus on ethnicity risks stigmatizing entire communities when child sexual abuse occurs across all demographics and backgrounds. Previous inquiries have already examined these issues extensively, and resources would be better spent on implementing existing recommendations rather than launching another lengthy investigation.

National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB June 2025

the Guardian #

Keir Starmer to launch national inquiry into grooming gangs

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

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This inquiry represents long-overdue justice for victims who were systematically failed by authorities more concerned with avoiding accusations of racism than protecting vulnerable children. The evidence clearly shows institutional cover-ups where officials prioritized political correctness over child safety, allowing predominantly Pakistani-heritage perpetrators to continue abusing young white girls. Only a full statutory inquiry with powers to compel testimony can finally hold accountable those who enabled these horrific crimes through willful blindness.

This inquiry represents long-overdue justice for victims who were systematically failed by authorities more concerned with avoiding accusations of racism than protecting vulnerable children. The evidence clearly shows institutional cover-ups where officials prioritized political correctness over child safety, allowing predominantly Pakistani-heritage perpetrators to continue abusing young white girls. Only a full statutory inquiry with powers to compel testimony can finally hold accountable those who enabled these horrific crimes through willful blindness.

Grooming gangs inquiry to target council cover-ups

Keir Starmer orders full-scale national inquiry into grooming gang abuse scandal after months of refusing to act

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

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UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

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