Khan refuses to apologise for grooming gangs denial

SIR Sadiq Khan has refused to apologise for denying grooming gangs existed in London, after the Met Commissioner admitted there were tens of cases reported each month.

- BY ZAK GARNER-PURKIS and AARON NEWBURY

Mayor of London Sir Sadia Khan faces the London Assembly over his previous denial about grooming gangs, alongside Met chief Sir Mark Rowley, right

The Mayor was asked three times to say sorry to victims at the London Assembly after saying no such groups were present in January.

Conservative Susan Hall began by referring to that session, adding: “When I asked if we had grooming gangs in London you dismissed my question by saying you didn't know what I meant. ‘What does she mean? Chair, what is she talking about?”

“I have to tell you, the rape victims knew exactly what I was talking about, and actually so did most other people. So would you like to apologise to all those victims of the rape gangs that actually saw you dismiss this?”

Sir Sadiq said he was thinking about the victims of such groups, “particularly in northern towns” before going on to praise his own record on funding programmes to clamp down on violence against women and girls.