Full Breakdown
National Inquiry Expands to Birmingham and Wales to Probe Grooming Gangs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development: New Local Investigations Launched
The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, chaired by former children’s commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield, has announced investigations in Birmingham and Wales.
Background & Context
The inquiry follows earlier investigations into child sexual exploitation in Oldham, London, Bradford and Keighley. Audits by cross-bench peer Louise Casey highlighted systemic shortcomings and led to the statutory inquiry’s launch in June 2025.
Key Figures & Groups
- Baroness Anne Longfield – Chair of the inquiry.
- Zoë Billingham – Panel member.
- Amy Clowrey – Director at Switalskis solicitors, representing Welsh survivors.
- Darren Millar MS – Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Senedd member for Clwyd West.
Official Statements & Responses
The inquiry will examine the scale of abuse and the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding, including devolved arrangements and cross-border cooperation.
Baroness Longfield said victims in Wales have “waited too long for answers” and that the inquiry aims to establish truth, deliver accountability and define needed changes.
It will run alongside Operation Beaconport, the National Crime Agency’s investigation into historic grooming-gang cases, and a “national listening project” to capture survivor testimony.
Criticism & Opposition
Darren Millar MS argued the decision came only after pressure from Reform UK and warned that Welsh services—councils, schools, social services and the NHS—must be examined. He expressed disappointment that the Senedd was not briefed before the announcement.
Data & Statistics
- The inquiry has identified more than 800 recommendations from past reviews dating back to the 1990s, noting “significant inconsistency” in implementation.
- Earlier police work in Birmingham linked many offenders to the city’s Pakistani-heritage community, though precise ethnic breakdowns remain unclear.
Why It Matters / Impact
The investigations aim to fill safeguarding gaps that have allowed grooming gangs to operate for decades, resulting in severe abuse and, in some cases, teenage deaths. By scrutinising English and devolved Welsh systems, the inquiry seeks recommendations that could reshape child-protection policies and improve inter-agency coordination.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Ethnicity data: The inquiry notes an over-representation of men from Asian and Pakistani backgrounds in some police investigations but admits a lack of comprehensive data hampers a full national picture.
- Scope of Welsh investigation: Survivors and politicians have called for clearer details on the timetable and survivor participation, which the inquiry has yet to publish.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s not just an English problem. The survivors I represent, and have represented, have always felt [Wales] has been overlooked in the national conversation.” — Amy Clowrey
- “Victims and survivors in Wales have waited too long for answers. This work is about establishing the truth, delivering accountability, and setting out clearly what must change so children are better protected in the future.” — Anne Longfield
- “We will look carefully at what organisations knew, how decisions were made, how agencies worked together, and why opportunities to protect children were missed” — Zoë Billingham
What’s Next
The inquiry will conduct fieldwork in Birmingham and Wales over the coming months, with findings to be incorporated into its national report due by the end of its three-year term. The outcomes are expected to inform future safeguarding legislation and guide implementation across the UK and devolved administrations.