British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday confirmed he would back a national investigation into grooming gangs that abused thousands of girls in England, following a government-commissioned review’s recommendation.
The decision is a U-turn from Starmer’s previous position against a statutory investigation. It comes amid increasing political pressure and a scathing review conducted by Louise Casey, a high-ranking official charged with examining gang-based child exploitation. Sky News reports that Casey’s report is set to determine that vulnerable white British girls were “institutionally ignored” by authorities who did not want to be accused of being racist.
Speaking en route to the G7 summit in Canada, Starmer said he had reviewed Casey’s findings thoroughly and would fully accept her recommendation.
“When she began, she wasn’t convinced a national inquiry was necessary,” he said. “But based on what she uncovered, she now believes one is. I’ve read every word of her report and will act accordingly.”
The grooming abuse, which emerged more than a decade ago, involved groups of mainly Pakistani men abusing young white girls, who were often from poor backgrounds or in care. These took place over many decades and occurred in towns and cities like Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford, and Bristol.
The scandal regained public attention earlier this year when tech mogul Elon Musk denounced the UK government for how it managed the scandal. In January, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper ordered the speedy audit to review the situation.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned Starmer’s slow response, saying she had since January called for a national inquiry.
“Survivors will welcome that this is at last happening,” she added, “but they ought to receive swift justice, not a ten-year delay.”
There were allegations that thousands of girls and young women had been abused during what has turned out to be one of the UK’s most serious institutional child protection failures.
