Birmingham has been added to the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, which expanded its remit on Wednesday to include Wales. The announcement came as Birmingham Children’s Trust revealed police were investigating 98 child sexual exploitation (CSE) cases in the city. Between January and June this year, 99 CSE crimes were recorded, with more than 140 children identified as at risk or experiencing exploitation.
Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the inquiry’s extension to Birmingham, where her party conference is due to start at the weekend. She said she was in contact with survivors who were pleased the inquiry was progressing but insisted the process must move swiftly. “We’re keeping a very close eye on what’s going on because we need to get justice for the victims,” she said.
Badenoch pointed to previous efforts by Conservative governments, including the Jay inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. She also referred to the grooming gangs task force, which uncovered “400 extra criminals.” Still, she acknowledged there was more to do. “I’m pleased that we did do some things. We brought this up to attention, but we’re not in government any more. The people in government now have to pick up the baton and carry on,” she added.
The inquiry, set to launch nationally in June 2025 after months of pressure, will examine the prevalence of CSE and victim experiences across England and Wales. The government said at the time it had “never dismissed the concerns of victims” of grooming gangs.
Badenoch criticised Labour for what she called a “u-turn” to enable the inquiry, contrasting it with Conservative efforts. At a Birmingham city council meeting on Wednesday, it emerged that West Midlands Police only began routinely recording the ethnicity of CSE offenders within the past year. Badenoch said capturing this data was “very important” because it helps understand how crimes may be concealed within closed communities. “I don’t know why it’s taken West Midlands Police this long,” she said.
Former safeguarding minister and Birmingham MP Jess Phillips suggested the true number of CSE crimes in the city could be higher than official figures indicate. The trust’s data shows a steady number of cases under investigation, underscoring ongoing concerns about child protection in the region.
The inquiry’s wider remit to include Wales and Birmingham reflects growing recognition of the scope of child sexual exploitation beyond previously examined areas. Birmingham’s inclusion coincides with the Conservative party conference beginning in the city this weekend, ensuring the issue will be part of political conversations.
Badenoch’s comments came amid increased scrutiny of how authorities record and respond to CSE cases, particularly regarding offender ethnicity. The delay by West Midlands Police in collecting this information has drawn criticism from politicians concerned about transparency and effective policing.
The national inquiry will examine these issues in detail, alongside survivor testimonies, as it moves toward its 2025 launch date.
According to Joy Online.
