Grooming Gangs Inquiry Expands to Birmingham and Wales
National inquiry into child sexual abuse to conduct targeted investigations in new locations.
Birmingham and Wales have been designated as the next locations for local investigations within a national inquiry examining child sexual abuse by grooming gangs. The statutory inquiry, led by former children's commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield, has the authority to compel individuals and institutions to account for their actions or inactions in protecting children from sexual abuse.
The inquiry will assess the nature and scale of abuse in these areas, building on previous investigations already announced for Oldham, Bradford, Keighley, and London. The decision to focus on Birmingham was influenced by factors including victim and survivor experiences, indications of prevalence and harm, and public concern.
Panel member Zoë Billingham stated that the investigation will scrutinize organizational knowledge, decision-making processes, inter-agency collaboration, and missed opportunities to safeguard children. Baroness Longfield emphasized that victims and survivors in Wales have endured prolonged waits for answers, and the inquiry aims to understand why children were not protected and what systemic changes are necessary.
The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs in England and Wales was established in June 2025. It commenced its work in April of the current year with an allocated budget of £65 million. The inquiry selects areas for investigation based on criteria such as the treatment of victims and survivors and whether opportunities to prevent harm were overlooked.