Starmer announces national inquiry into grooming gangs

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that there will be a statutory inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal after accepting the recommendation of a government commissioned report by Baroness Louise Casey.

- Catherine Neilan & David Connett

The government has previously resisted a new inquiry into the scandal, instead allowing five councils to set up their own investigations in towns where girls were abused.

Ministers argued that another national inquiry would delay justice for victims, by prolonging the wait for recommendations from previous inquiries to be implemented.

Baroness Casey was asked to review the cases and her report, which is expected to be published in full this week, recommends a new national inquiry to directly examine the persistent allegations that the perpetrators' race was a factor in the failure to investigate the cases.

The decision comes shortly after the latest conviction of seven men who sexually exploited two vulnerable teenage girls in Rochdale.

Greater Manchester Police said the men were convicted after a long-running trial involving a total of 50 offences, including rape and indecency with a child, which occurred between 2001 and 2006.