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?

<h2></h2>

The U.K. government has announced a full statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs after accepting recommendations from Baroness Louise Casey's audit on group-based child sexual exploitation. Speaking on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper apologized to victims for the "unimaginable pain and suffering" caused by institutional failure.

the Guardian

GB News

GOV.UK

The U.K. government has announced a full statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs after accepting recommendations from Baroness Louise Casey's audit on group-based child sexual exploitation. Speaking on Monday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper apologized to victims for the "unimaginable pain and suffering" caused by institutional failure.

Baroness Casey found institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation caused by "blindness, ignorance, prejudice, defensiveness and even good but misdirected intentions," including many charges which were dropped or downgraded because minors were believed to have been "in love with" abusers or "had consented to" sex.

Committees

Baroness Casey found institutional failures in addressing child sexual exploitation caused by "blindness, ignorance, prejudice, defensiveness and even good but misdirected intentions," including many charges which were dropped or downgraded because minors were believed to have been "in love with" abusers or "had consented to" sex.

Casey also found there to be data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though there was "enough evidence" that a disproportionate number of suspects were men from Pakistani and Asian ethnic backgrounds for this to be further examined.

Casey also found there to be data gaps in understanding grooming gangs, with ethnicity data missing for two-thirds of perpetrators, though there was "enough evidence" that a disproportionate number of suspects were men from Pakistani and Asian ethnic backgrounds for this to be further examined.

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

The Labour Party

Publications

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

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.

BBC News #

The Telegraph #

hansard.parliament.uk #

The Labour Party #

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

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

Keir Starmer to launch national inquiry into grooming gangs

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

Crime & justice

Immigration & refugees

Politics

United Kingdom

For too long, previous governments failed to act decisively on group-based child sexual exploitation by numerous perpetrators, letting countless victims down. Starmer and Labour have acted sensibly, commissioning a rapid national audit before accepting all 12 of Baroness Casey’s recommendations. This government will right the wrongs of the past and make sure these tragedies will never happen again.

For too long, previous governments failed to act decisively on group-based child sexual exploitation by numerous perpetrators, letting countless victims down. Starmer and Labour have acted sensibly, commissioning a rapid national audit before accepting all 12 of Baroness Casey’s recommendations. This government will right the wrongs of the past and make sure these tragedies will never happen again.

Government response to the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse report

Baroness Casey's audit of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse

For years, politicians have covered up grooming gang crimes predominantly committed by Asian and Pakistani Muslim men against White working-class girls out of fear of being labeled racist. Victims were ignored, abusers protected, and officials stayed silent. This was a systemic, politically driven cover-up, and those who are complicit in this dark stain on British history must face justice.

For years, politicians have covered up grooming gang crimes predominantly committed by Asian and Pakistani Muslim men against White working-class girls out of fear of being labeled racist. Victims were ignored, abusers protected, and officials stayed silent. This was a systemic, politically driven cover-up, and those who are complicit in this dark stain on British history must face justice.

Con_Tomlinson

There is a 60% chance that the U.K. will have a Labour Prime Minister on Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 60% chance that the U.K. will have a Labour Prime Minister on Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Farage

Christys

Moreton

Blackman

Anderson

Philp

Pearson

Government

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

UK Launches National Grooming Gangs Inquiry After Casey Report

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Farage

Christys

Moreton

Blackman

Anderson

Philp

Pearson

Government

Articles on this story

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters