This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7872pngj2qo
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sir Keir Starmer announces national inquiry into grooming gangs | Sir Keir Starmer announces national inquiry into grooming gangs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has announced there will be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. | The prime minister has announced there will be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs. |
| Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. | Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. |
| Baroness Casey has recommended a national inquiry is required, he said. The inquiry will cover England and Wales. | |
| For months, Sir Keir has faced criticism for not being willing to set one up. | For months, Sir Keir has faced criticism for not being willing to set one up. |
| At the start of the year, the government dismissed calls for a national inquiry, arguing it had already been examined in a seven-year inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay. | At the start of the year, the government dismissed calls for a national inquiry, arguing it had already been examined in a seven-year inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay. |
| But speaking to reporters on his way to the G7 summit, which begins in Canada tomorrow, the prime minister said: "I've never said we should not look again at any issue." | But speaking to reporters on his way to the G7 summit, which begins in Canada tomorrow, the prime minister said: "I've never said we should not look again at any issue." |
| He added that Baroness Casey had originally thought a new inquiry was not necessary, but she had changed her mind having looked into it in recent months. | He added that Baroness Casey had originally thought a new inquiry was not necessary, but she had changed her mind having looked into it in recent months. |
| "She's come to the view there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she's seen," Sir Keir said. | "She's come to the view there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she's seen," Sir Keir said. |
| "I've read every single word of her report, and I'm going to accept her recommendation. | "I've read every single word of her report, and I'm going to accept her recommendation. |
| "I think that's the right thing to do, on the basis of what she has put in her audit. | "I think that's the right thing to do, on the basis of what she has put in her audit. |
| "I asked her to do that job, to double-check on this. | "I asked her to do that job, to double-check on this. |
| "She's done that job for me, and having read her report… I shall now implement her recommendation." | "She's done that job for me, and having read her report… I shall now implement her recommendation." |
| He added that it "will take a bit of time" to set up the inquiry, but added that "it will be statutory under the Inquiries Act". | |
| This means the inquiry will be able to compel witnesses to provide evidence. | |
| In January, the government stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs, despite the idea receiving support from some Labour MPs. | |
| Instead, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a "rapid" three-month audit, led by Baroness Casey, into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. | |
| Cooper also unveiled plans for five government-backed local inquiries - to be held in Oldham and four other areas yet to be named. | |
| Baroness Casey's review, which began in January, was due to take three months and had been delayed. | Baroness Casey's review, which began in January, was due to take three months and had been delayed. |
| Earlier this month, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips apologised for the delay, saying Baroness Casey had requested a "short extension" and that the report was expected "very shortly". | |
| The Conservatives have long been calling for a nationwide inquiry into grooming gangs, with the power to compel people to give evidence. | |
| Reacting to Saturday's announcement, the party's leader, Kemi Badenoch, said: "Keir Starmer doesn't know what he thinks unless an official report has told him so. | |
| "Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn. | "Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn. |
| "I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. | "I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. |
| "It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months." | "It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months." |
| Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the decision "a welcome U-turn". | |
| In a post on X, Farage wrote: "A full statutory enquiry, done correctly, will expose the multiple failings of the British establishment. I repeat the words 'done correctly' - this cannot be a whitewash. | |
| "It's time for victims to receive the justice they deserve and for perpetrators to face the full force of the law." |