Sir Gavin Williamson is urging the Government to launch a full National Inquiry into child sexual grooming.
In January, Labour voted against an amendement to launch a National Inquiry as part of the Children’s and Schools Wellbeing Bill. The amendment called on the Government “to develop new legislative proposals for children’s wellbeing including establishing a national statutory inquiry into historical child sexual exploitation, focussed on grooming gangs.”
Instead, the Government opted to commence a series of local inquiries, despite overwhelming evidence which suggests a national inquiry is needed. For example, in its annual profile of child sexual exploitation for 2022/23, South Yorkshire Police noted that national reports of online grooming had risen 80% nationally in the previous four years.
Sir Gavin said: “It is incomprehensible that Labour have rejected calls for a National Inquiry into the widespread shocking cases of child sexual grooming.
“Victims and their families need justice and we must learn lessons to ensure that children are protected from monsters and their evil intentions.
“We cannot use ethnicity and fear of being labelled rascist as an excuse to turn a blind eye to such vile criminal activity. Time and time again we have seen cover-ups on an industrial scale from people placed in positions of trust.
“I am calling on the Home Secretary to urgently establish a National Inquiry into grooming gangs – without decisive action, abuse will continue.”
