Kate Whannel
Political reporter
Watch: Home Secretary outlines government’s plan to tackle grooming gangs
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans for a nationwide review of grooming gang evidence and five government-backed local inquiries.
She stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry, as called for by the Conservatives and some Labour MPs, but this marks a clear shift in the government’s position.
Cooper said top lawyer Tom Crowther, who led an inquiry in Telford, would help Oldham and four other pilot areas yet to be named, develop their own reviews.
She also announced a “rapid” three month national audit headed by veteran government trouble-shooter Baroness Louise Casey to examine the demographics of the gangs and their victims, as well as “cultural drivers” behind the offending.
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the plan was “wholly inadequate” and repeated his call for a full national inquiry.
He expressed concern that the local inquiries would not have the powers to compel witnesses to attend and give evidence under oath.
The issue had recently been thrust into the spotlight by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has criticised the prime minister for not calling a national inquiry.
Mr Musk responded to Cooper’s announcement by saying on his X platform: “I hope this is a proper investigation”. He added: “This is a step in the right direction, but the results will speak for themselves.”
The row between Mr Musk and Starmer centred on high-profile cases where groups of men – mainly of Pakistani descent – were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly young white girls in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale.
An independent report, published by Prof Alexis Jay in 2014, estimated 1,400 girls had been abused in Rotherham. She would later go on to lead a national review into child sexual abuse, which lasted seven years and made 20 recommendations when it was published in 2022.
In recent days three Labour MPs publicly expressed support for a national inquiry – Dan Carden, Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, and Rochdale MP Paul Waugh.
Other senior Labour figures, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, also joined the calls, saying they would support a limited new inquiry.
Prof Jay rejected calls for a new national inquiry last week, saying victims want to see action on her recommendations and a new inquiry would cause delays.
The prime minister and Labour ministers had said their priority was to i
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