Locations of grooming gang inquiries to be revealed ‘very soon’ – minister
When pressed to disclose the areas conducting local inquiries into grooming, Jess Phillips said the Government’s plans would ‘come before Easter’.
The locations of upcoming grooming gang inquiries will be revealed “very soon”, equalities minister Jess Phillips has told the Commons.
Shadow equalities minister Mims Davies had pressed the Government to disclose the remaining areas conducting local inquiries, with Oldham already being named as one of them.
During women and equalities questions, Ms Phillips asked for “patience” and said the Government’s plans would “come before Easter”.
This came after the issue gained international attention when tech billionaire Elon Musk posted a series of attacks aimed at the Prime Minister.
Speaking from the Conservative frontbench, Ms Davies said: “In January, the Labour Government committed they would be assisting five local inquiries, including one in Oldham, into grooming gangs and rape gangs.
“Now, two months on, we’ve had no update from the Government about the other locations. So in which towns can women and girls now sleep safely in their beds? And when and where are the other four inquiries going to take place?
“And what does the Government plan to do about the other 45 towns and cities across the country where these gangs have reportedly operated?”
“As the Home Secretary (said), when she laid out her plans, that it would come before Easter. I beg of (Ms Davies) the patience she offered her own government when they offered none of this.”
The Government has previously knocked back calls for a national review in favour of locally led inquiries, saying it is focused on implementing recommendations from Professor Alexis Jay’s 2022 report on the issue.
It has pledged to set out a clear timetable by Easter for implementing all the recommendations in the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
