Police Prioritized Crime Targets Over Grooming Gang Investigations, Reports Reveal

Leaked findings show South Yorkshire Police ignored child exploitation cases to meet Home Office crime performance targets during the 2000s.

A leaked report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reveals South Yorkshire Police prioritized vehicle, burglary, and robbery cases over child sexual exploitation (CSE) investigations to meet Home Office performance targets.
The IOPC investigation, completed in 2022 but not published, found that senior officers failed to act on known information about grooming gangs, allowing abuse to continue for years.
Despite evidence of systemic failures, none of the 47 officers investigated faced dismissal, and many retired before potential disciplinary actions could be pursued.
Campaigners, including whistleblower Jayne Senior, are calling for a full national inquiry, arguing that local inquiries and previous investigations have not held senior officials accountable.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has demanded the release of the IOPC's Operation Amazon report to restore public confidence and ensure justice for victims.