How is the grooming gangs inquiry developing?

 

How is the grooming gangs inquiry developing?

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is currently in its initial setup phase following a period of significant administrative disruption. As of February 2024, the inquiry is consulting on its draft terms of reference, with a deadline of 6 March 2026 for public and survivor input.

 

Current Status and Leadership

Chair and Panel: Baroness Anne Longfield CBE, the former Children’s Commissioner for England, was appointed as Chair on 9 December 2025. She is supported by panellists Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE.

Timeline: The inquiry is expected to begin its work in earnest in March 2026 after terms are finalized. It has a three-year operational limit and a budget of £65 million.

Consultation: A focused consultation period is currently active, allowing victims and survivors to share views on the inquiry's scope through private online spaces and face-to-face engagement.

Key Developments and Scope

Explicit Focus: The draft terms of reference state the inquiry will explicitly examine the background of offenders, including ethnicity and religion, and whether authorities failed to investigate due to concerns over "community cohesion."

Operation Beaconport: The inquiry will work alongside a national police operation, Operation Beaconport, which is reviewing over 1,200 previously closed cases of child sexual exploitation for potential reinvestigation.

Statutory Powers: Unlike some previous reviews, this is a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, giving it legal powers to compel witnesses and evidence.

Recent Challenges

Resignations: In late 2025, the inquiry faced a series of setbacks when several survivors resigned from the liaison panel, citing concerns over "stage-management" and the initial selection of chair candidates.

Leadership Vacuum: Before Baroness Longfield’s appointment, two previous shortlisted candidates (Annie Hudson and Jim Gamble) withdrew their candidacy following criticism from survivor groups.