Home Office Minister Jess Phillips has confirmed more local grooming inquiries are expected beyond the five already announced. She emphasized new details will follow once Baroness Louise Casey’s audit is published later in May.
Phillips stressed that her actions would be driven by facts revealed in the forthcoming report. She stated she did not yet know which areas Baroness Casey would highlight.
Conservative MP Chris Philp criticized the current plan, saying inquiries without power to compel witnesses “just won’t do.” He repeated calls for a full national inquiry.
The shadow home secretary questioned how councils unwilling to cooperate would be forced into participating. Bradford Council was cited as an example of reluctance.
Earlier this year, Bradford’s Safeguarding Children Partnership said another inquiry would likely offer no new information. Conservative MP Robbie Moore accused Bradford Council of avoiding an investigation to hide deeper issues.
Phillips promised that if problems were exposed by Baroness Casey, she would act firmly and pursue reluctant councils. She assured MPs that no authority would escape scrutiny if evidence demanded action.
Public attention on grooming gangs remains high. High-profile cases over the last decade have involved predominantly Pakistani-descended men abusing white girls.
Interest surged again this year after Elon Musk called for a new national inquiry into the scandal. Opposition MPs and some Labour members supported Musk’s proposal, although no full inquiry has been ordered.
Instead, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper launched an audit to map the current scale of gang-based exploitation. She also pledged £5 million to support victim-centered, locally led investigations.
Oldham and four yet-unnamed areas will host the first local grooming inquiries funded by this initiative. Furthermore, barrister Tom Crowther KC was tasked with designing a framework for these investigations.
Although Crowther expressed doubts about his role last month, the government reassured him that efforts would continue. Phillips insisted the commitment to launch five local grooming inquiries was moving forward.
She hinted even more local grooming inquiries could follow based on evidence from the upcoming review. She underlined her focus would remain on facts and reaching victims wherever they are found.
Conservative MP Karen Bradley pressed for clarity on where the local grooming inquiries will be launched. Phillips responded that locations would be announced alongside Baroness Casey’s findings in May.
Phillips reaffirmed her intention to pursue any council showing reluctance to address historical abuse allegations. She promised thorough action to support victims.
As pressure builds, it is clear that local grooming inquiries will remain a major political issue in coming months.
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