Ministers must be clear whether the UK has a serious problem with rape and grooming gangs, the government’s independent adviser on political violence has said.
Lord Walney expressed sympathy with ministers’ reluctance to launch a public inquiry, noting such investigations “can drag on” and “suck the whole of the life out of an issue.”
The scandal has made headlines recently, with senior political figures, such as Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, calling for a full national inquiry into grooming gangs in the UK.
Asked why the government is opposed to a national inquiry, Lord Walney told Camilla Tominey on GB News: “The issue with the public inquiries is that they really, genuinely can drag on.
Lord Walney expressed sympathy with ministers’ reluctance to launch a public inquiry
GB News
“They can suck the whole of the life out of an issue. I’ve got sympathy with ministers over not wanting to go down that [route].
“But I think it is really important that we are clear, the government is clear, politicians, us as a country, have a clearer answer to the central question that a lot of people watching this must be thinking does the UK have a serious problem with these rape and grooming gangs led by are they led disproportionately, not exclusively, but disproportionately, by men of Pakistani heritage preying on white girls…
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“I’m not clear at the moment what our answer to that is. If the answer to that is yes, then the immediate conversation ought to go very quickly as to, well, what are we going to do about it? And that’s where avoiding a public inquiry could actually speed up action.
“If the answer is no, well, I think that will run counter to what a lot of people looking at this are thinking.
“But it’s really important that if that is actually statistically a myth, then we, all the government ministers, institutions, need to be out there showing actually why that perception is a myth.
“And, if the answer is we’re not sure and we don’t have sufficient evidence to understand it, then clearly more examination is urgently needed.
“That may not be in the form of a public statutory inquiry, but we have to place a greater focus on that.”
Rotherham grooming gangCPS
Labour MP Dan Carden has become the first to break ranks and publicly call for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The Liverpool Walton MP told the Liverpool Echo: “The public compassion for the victims, thousands of young British working-class girls and children is real. The public call for justice must be heeded.”
He expressed shock at authorities’ failure to act, citing concerns about confronting racial or cultural issues.
“We must question and challenge the orthodoxy of progressive liberal multiculturalism that led to authorities failing to act,” Carden said.
Labour MP Dan Carden has become the first to break ranks and publicly call for a national inquiry into grooming gangs
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He urged the Prime Minister to “use the full power of the state to deliver justice” and pursue perpetrators while holding accountable those in authority who “turned a blind eye.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has backed calls for a “limited” national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham supported drawing on existing reviews from areas like Rotherham and Telford.
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