Story perspectives

£65M grooming gangs inquiry launched in Birmingham and Wales

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 10:02 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Baroness Anne Longfield’s Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs launched investigations in Birmingham and Wales.
The three-year, £65 million inquiry can compel witnesses and demand documents from agencies.
The inquiry will examine how police, NHS, local and central governments protected children.
The Welsh phase will assess safeguarding, devolved arrangements and cross-border cooperation with England.
It will explore how ethnicity, religion and culture influence gang exploitation.

History

Historical Context

The 2024 Longfield review follows a lineage of state-led safeguarding efforts that began in the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria’s long reign (1837-1901) saw the 1867 Reform Act double the electorate and the 1887 Golden Jubilee cement a ‘family monarchy’ emphasizing moral responsibility. Those reforms laid groundwork for later child-protection legislation such as the 2001 Laming report.

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Story summary

Baroness Anne Longfield’s Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs launched investigations in Birmingham and Wales.
The three-year, £65 million inquiry can compel witnesses and demand documents from agencies.
The inquiry will examine how police, NHS, local and central governments protected children.
The Welsh phase will assess safeguarding, devolved arrangements and cross-border cooperation with England.
It will explore how ethnicity, religion and culture influence gang exploitation.

1 / 2