The British government announced on Thursday its decision to back a series of local inquiries into cases of organized child sexual abuse, following heightened public concern largely influenced by recent comments made by entrepreneur Elon Musk. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that the government will also conduct a rapid audit to assess the current scale and nature of gang-based exploitation across the country.
The issue of grooming gangs, also known as rape gangs, has gained significant attention in the U.K. after Musk raised the matter on his platform and criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting a national inquiry. Musk's remarks were prompted by revelations of sexual exploitation of girls under 18 by groups of men in the town of Oldham, leading to allegations of inadequate justice delivery during Starmer's tenure as chief prosecutor.
The cases in Oldham and other towns involving predominantly white girls abused by men from Pakistani backgrounds have been exploited by far-right activists to draw connections between child sexual abuse and immigration, accusing politicians of concealing crimes to avoid accusations of racism.
The government's decision to endorse local inquiries in Oldham and four other areas marks a shift from its previous stance of no further investigations being necessary. Cooper emphasized the importance of thorough investigations at the local level to provide more relevant answers and bring about meaningful change.
Cooper confirmed the allocation of 10 million pounds to support the initiatives, with half of the funding designated for the inquiries. She acknowledged delays in implementing recommendations from previous inquiries and pledged swift action to address the outstanding issues, including compensation for abuse victims.
While the government's announcement was welcomed by many, the opposition Conservative Party expressed concerns about the scope of the measures, citing the need for inquiries in approximately 50 areas affected by grooming gangs. There were also apprehensions raised about the local inquiries' ability to summon witnesses compared to a national inquiry.
