Labour Leader Accused of Distracting from Damning Grooming Gangs Report

Strategic Insights -

A damning report on grooming gangs is expected to be critical of the handling of the scandal at a local and national level, with connections to men of Pakistani origin. The report comes ahead of a national inquiry led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Home Office. Critics accuse Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of attempting to distract from the report with an investigation into the crime wave. In contrast, the Tories say Labour has done too little too late.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NCA will lead a nationwide operation in collaboration with police forces to improve how local police investigate grooming crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
  • Over 800 historic cases of group-based child sexual abuse have been re-opened since January, with the Government announcing plans for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of attempting to distract from the NCA report with an investigation into the crime wave, with critics saying he did not take action soon enough.
  • Chris Philp, shadow home secretary, has accused Sir Keir of spreading lies and misinformation about grooming gangs, citing his previous comments calling the calls for action "far-Right propaganda."
  • The inquiry may include introducing national minimum licensing standards for taxi drivers, following a trial where seven men were found guilty of sexually exploiting teenage girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006.
  • A spokesperson for Labour countered that the party had acted quickly to set up an inquiry, with Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, saying the vulnerable girls who suffered from abuse have grown into brave women demanding justice.
  • Chris Philp accuses Sir Keir of delaying justice for six months and says that Labour's refusal to call for a statutory inquiry was a failure to get a grip on the scandal.
  • Philp also states that Sir Keir dismissed those calling for the inquiry accurately, claiming it was due to perpetrators being of Pakistani origin, and observes that the authorities protected their multi-cultural utopia and so-called community relations.
  • The Labour leader is also accused of not accepting the need for an inquiry, instead insulting those who called for one.
  • In the opinion of Philp, the inquiry will not be a proper one unless it is vested with statutory powers, the ability to compel evidence, summon witnesses, and penetrate institutional inertia that allowed the scandal to persist.

Statistics:

  • The investigation will have the power to compel local 'deep dive' investigations into historic grooming gang cases.
  • Over 800 historic cases of group-based child sexual abuse have been re-opened since January.
  • The report linking the problem to men of Pakistani origin is expected to be part of a national audit into grooming gangs.

Sources:

  • "Labour's delay on grooming gangs inquiry 'will damage trust'." BBC News.
  • "Government orders National Crime Agency to investigate grooming gangs." The Guardian.
  • "Chris Philp: Sir Keir Starmer has 'moral cowardice' on grooming gangs." The Telegraph.