The Conservative Party has renewed its calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, arguing that the measures introduced by the Government so far are “not enough” to address the issue.
As part of their push, the Tories are set to table an amendment to the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill, which, if accepted, would compel ministers to establish an inquiry. This inquiry would scrutinise the extent of grooming gang activity, assess patterns of offending, and investigate potential failures by police forces, local authorities, and government agencies in tackling these crimes.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp reiterated his party’s commitment to justice for victims, stating:
“The Conservative Party will not stop fighting for justice for the victims of these heinous crimes.”
Political battle over grooming gangs
The debate over grooming gangs has remained a contentious issue in British politics, reigniting earlier this year following a series of public attacks from Elon Musk directed at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. In response to growing scrutiny, the Home Secretary announced a set of local reviews into grooming gang activity, along with a rapid assessment of the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation across the UK.
Despite these measures, the Conservatives insist that local inquiries are insufficient, and that a full national investigation is required. Their proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would mandate that an inquiry be established within three months if passed.
This inquiry would be tasked with:
- Identifying trends in gang activity, including methods of targeting victims.
- Examining the scale and severity of crimes committed by grooming gangs.
- Investigating institutional failings by law enforcement, government bodies, charities, and healthcare services.
Tory leadership stands firm
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, affirmed that her party remains committed to securing a national inquiry, stating:
“We have not let this issue of a national inquiry go.”
She added that she had met with campaigners who had expressed frustration over the lack of a large-scale investigation, saying:
“We know there has been a lot of investigation, but it has not been anywhere near the scale required to get to the root of what’s been happening across our country.”
Previous attempts to force an inquiry
This is not the first time the Conservatives have attempted to push the Government into action.
In January, the opposition introduced a motion to amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have forced a national inquiry into grooming gangs. However, the motion was rejected by 364 votes to 111, with a majority of 253.
At the time, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the Government’s approach, arguing that local inquiries were more effective than a prolonged national investigation. She told Parliament:
“Effective local inquiries can delve into far more detail and deliver more locally relevant answers and change than a lengthy nationwide inquiry can provide.”
Meanwhile, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips assured MPs in March that an update on the locations of the promised local inquiries would be provided soon.
Labour accuses conservatives of ‘hypocrisy’
In response to the latest Conservative push, a Labour Party spokesperson accused Kemi Badenoch and Chris Philp of “hypocritically exploiting” the issue for political gain. The spokesperson argued that while the Conservatives were in government, they did little to address the problem:
“Not once in that time did either of them mention the issue of grooming gangs in any of their speeches in the House of Commons. Not once did they hold a meeting with any external individual or organisation to discuss the issue of grooming gangs: not one victim; not one expert on sexual abuse; not one local authority; not one local police force.”
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Labour also criticised the Conservatives for failing to implement recommendations from the seven-year national inquiry into child sexual abuse, led by Alexis Jay, after its publication.
Government’s response
A Home Office spokesperson responded to the latest calls by reaffirming the Government’s commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation. They highlighted several measures currently being undertaken, including:
- A £5 million fund to support local inquiries into child sexual exploitation.
- A national framework to assist local authorities in handling cases.
- Baroness Casey’s rapid audit into the current scale of gang-based abuse, with findings expected soon.
- New legal obligations for teachers, healthcare workers, and other professionals to report child sexual abuse, with criminal penalties for those who fail to act.
The spokesperson stated:
“The Government is committed to doing everything it can to tackle the horrific crime of child sexual abuse, and will be setting out our progress in this area to Parliament next week.”
A deepening political divide
With the Conservatives continuing to push for a comprehensive national inquiry, Labour remains steadfast in its stance that localised reviews are the most effective way forward.
As the Government prepares to present its progress report on child sexual exploitation, the political battle over how best to tackle grooming gangs is set to intensify in the coming weeks.
