The Inquiry is a statutory inquiry, established under the Inquiries Act 2005. It is fully independent of the Government and of all institutions it is investigating.
Overview
The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs is a national inquiry covering all of England and Wales. It is investigating the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by grooming gangs and the failures of institutions responsible for protecting them.
The Inquiry is a statutory inquiry, established under the Inquiries Act 2005. It is fully independent of the Government and of all institutions it is investigating.
It is carrying out both national accountability hearings and local investigations to examine what happened, why systems failed to protect children, and what must change.
Why the Inquiry was established
The Inquiry was set up in response to recommendation 2 of Baroness Louise Casey’s National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published in June 2025.
The National Audit found that systemic failures and institutional paralysis had allowed grooming gangs to operate and abuse children over many years.
The Inquiry builds on this work by examining both local failures and the role of national systems, including whether previous recommendations were implemented and why in so many cases they did not lead to meaningful change.
What the Inquiry is now doing
The Inquiry is now underway and is carrying out a programme of national work across England and Wales. There will also be some local area investigations in a number of areas.
the Inquiry is conducting national accountability hearings, which will require relevant organisations to explain what they did, what they did not do, and why previous recommendations – both national and local – were not consistently put into practice.
Local investigations are examining what happened in specific areas, beginning with Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London. They look at how grooming gangs operated, what institutions knew, how they responded, and why children were not protected.
Using its statutory powers under the Inquiries Act 2005, the Inquiry may compel witnesses to give evidence and require organisations to provide documents. Where failures are identified, the Inquiry will hold organisations and individuals to account.
Chair and Panel
On 9 December 2025, the Home Secretary announced the appointment of Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair of the Inquiry, alongside panellists Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE.
The Inquiry formally began its work on 31 March 2026 and will last no more than three years.
Together, the Chair and Panel are responsible for leading the Inquiry’s investigations, hearings and reporting.
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference set out what the Inquiry will investigate. The final Terms of Reference were published in March 2026.
The Inquiry will deliver its work through local investigations and national work, in line with these Terms of Reference.
Secretariat
The Inquiry Secretariat supports the Chair and Panel in carrying out their work. This includes coordinating investigations, managing evidence, supporting hearings, and ensuring the Inquiry operates effectively and independently.
It is led by Joint Secretaries Alice Bradley and Sally Frazer.
How the Inquiry works
The Inquiry is independent and operates under the Inquiries Act 2005. It is a fact-finding process and does not determine criminal or civil liability.
It works alongside Operation Beaconport, a national criminal investigation overseen by the National Crime Agency. Where the Inquiry identifies evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing, it will be shared with relevant law enforcement bodies.
The Inquiry will publish its findings and recommendations as its work progresses, including reports from local investigations and national findings, rather than waiting for a single final report.
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