Shabana Mahmood is determined to ensure that members of grooming gangs face justice, labeling them as “evil.” She announced that Baroness Anne Longfield, a former children’s commissioner, will lead the national inquiry, which has been delayed for months. The inquiry, mandated to produce findings within three years, aims to shed light on a dark chapter in history.
Mahmood criticized the state for failing to protect the young and vulnerable, with some individuals in power turning a blind eye to the atrocities. The investigation will consist of local inquiries overseen by a national panel with full statutory authority.
In addition to appointing Baroness Longfield, the Home Secretary unveiled a support package for victims and survivors, along with funding for law enforcement to target offenders. Mahmood emphasized that perpetrators will have no refuge, with over 1,200 cases earmarked for reinvestigation, including 200 priority rape cases.
The inquiry will specifically focus on child sexual abuse by grooming gangs, examining the background of offenders, including ethnicity and religion, and scrutinizing whether authorities neglected investigations to maintain community cohesion. The inquiry pledges to identify individual, institutional, and systemic failures, collaborating with the police to tackle new criminal activities.
Baroness Casey’s alarming report prompted the national inquiry’s announcement in June. Baroness Longfield, set to depart as a Labour peer following her elevation to the House of Lords, stressed the importance of acknowledging past failings and safeguarding current children and youth.
The inquiry commits to confronting uncomfortable truths, including the ethnicity of abusers, which had previously been avoided. Evidence suggests a disproportionate number of offenders in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire had South Asian backgrounds.
Mahmood clarified that the vile acts committed by these individuals have no connection to Muslim or Islamic beliefs. She echoed the community’s horror and emphasized the need to eradicate such evil behavior.
Despite challenges, progress has been made since the acceptance of Baroness Casey’s recommendations. Initiatives include overturning convictions and cautions related to “child prostitution” and investing additional funds into policing, survivor support, and research on combating grooming gangs.