Bid for local inquiry into city grooming gangs voted down

MP’s 1,812-strong petition triggered debate

- Phil Corrigan

STOKE-ON-TRENT councillors have voted against holding a local inquiry into grooming gangs in the next 12 months - saying the national inquiry should be allowed to do its work first.

Elected members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council debated the issue after 1,812 people signed a petition calling for a local inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE).

The full council debate followed the Government's announcement that a new national inquiry will be launched, in line with a recommendation in Baroness Casey's audit into group-based CSE.

Former Stoke-on-Trent North Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis, who started the petition, says it is unclear whether the national probe will look into cases in the Potteries.

He called on the council to commit to holding its own inquiry if Stoke-on-Trent had not been included nationally within 12 months.