Calls Intensify for National Inquiry Into Grooming Gangs in the UK

Survivors, politicians, and advocacy groups demand a focused investigation into systemic failures and the role of organized networks in child sexual exploitation.

Elizabeth Harper, a survivor of abuse by a Rotherham grooming gang, is leading calls for a national inquiry, highlighting systemic failures by police, social services, and local authorities.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have joined voices urging the government to launch a focused investigation into grooming gangs across the UK.
Labour MP Dan Carden broke ranks with his party, calling for the Prime Minister to use the full power of the state to deliver justice and address failures tied to cultural and socioeconomic factors.
The Labour government has resisted calls for a new inquiry, citing the 2022 report on child sexual abuse, but faces mounting public and political pressure as polls show overwhelming support for a national investigation.
Critics warn against politicizing the issue and emphasize the need to prevent harm to communities, while new police data shows most group-based offenders are white, complicating the debate over racial and cultural factors.