The national grooming gangs inquiry has announced that Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London will be the first areas to face detailed local investigations, with further locations to be named in the coming months.
Oldham had previously been identified as a focus for the inquiry, with work already under way there. The inquiry confirmed that concerns about Bradford and Keighley had been raised over many years, which it said “formed an important part of the case for investigation.” In London, investigators will examine how abuse by grooming gangs has been “identified and responded to” across the capital, though the inquiry acknowledged the “scale and complexity” of London and its multiple boroughs posed an additional challenge.
The local investigations will examine in detail how children were targeted and exploited, the response of individuals and institutions, how victims and survivors were treated and what changes are now needed. The findings will also feed into the broader national picture. National hearings are expected to begin before the end of the year.
The statutory inquiry was established in June last year following months of political wrangling after Sir Keir Starmer initially refused to launch one. It is chaired by former children’s commissioner Anne Longfield and formally began work at the end of March.
