Wales and Birmingham added to grooming gangs inquiry

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 2 Oct, 12:03 · Archive

Wales and Birmingham have been selected for investigation by the national inquiry into grooming gangs led by Baroness Anne Longfield.

The independent inquiry into grooming gangs has expanded its investigation to cover Wales and Birmingham. The inquiry, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, will examine the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by grooming gangs and assess how organisations responsible for protecting children responded to the problem.

These locations have been added following earlier selections of Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London for targeted local investigation. The inquiry will conduct three-part hearings that investigate not only local councils, the NHS and national police institutions, but also Central Government departments and politicians.

The statutory inquiry has the power to compel witnesses and documents as it seeks to establish what individuals and agencies did or did not do to protect children from sexual abuse. It will examine both offending in the selected areas and the wider picture of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The announcement represents a widening of the £65 million probe's scope as it continues to investigate serious safeguarding failures across multiple locations. The inquiry will also assess efforts made in towns and cities that have already undergone separate reviews, including Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford.

How it is being reported

• MAPPED: The UK towns and regions in line for justice from grooming gang probeThe national grooming gangs inquiry has been expanded to two more areas.Daily Express · 30 Sept, 21:46
• Grooming gangs inquiry to investigate offending in Wales and BirminghamNational inquiry will conduct local investigations and look at the wider picture of sexual abuse and exploitation of children Birmingham and Wales will be investigated as part of an independent inquiry into grooming gangs, it was announced on Wednesday. The inquiry, chaired by the former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield, will have the power to compel witnesses and documents to interrogate what individuals and agencies “did or did not do to protect children from being sexually abused”. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on…The Guardian · 30 Sept, 15:30
• Birmingham and Wales confirmed as next locations for grooming gangs inquiryThe statutory inquiry is carrying out targeted investigations in areas across England and WalesThe Independent · 30 Sept, 14:44
• Grooming gangs inquiry to investigate child sexual abuse in Birmingham and Wales as scope of £65million probe widensThe inquiry said both probes will 'examine the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by grooming gangs and the response of organisations responsible for protecting children'.Daily Mail · 30 Sept, 14:30
• Grooming gangs inquiry expands to Wales and BirminghamThe independent inquiry into grooming gangs has widened its investigation to cover Wales and Birmingham.Sky News · 30 Sept, 14:20
• Wales and Birmingham selected for grooming gang inquiry probesWales and Birmingham have been selected for investigation by the national inquiry into grooming gangs. This comes after Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London were confirmed as the first locations selected for local investigation in June. The inquiry has confirmed that its three-part hearings will investigate Central Government departments and politicians alongside local councils, the NHS and national police institutions. Led by Baroness Anne Longfield, the probe will then assess efforts made in towns and cities that have already had reviews, such as Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford and…GB News · 30 Sept, 14:08

In this story: Baroness Anne Longfield · Wales · Birmingham · Oldham · Bradford · London · Rotherham · Rochdale

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