Birmingham is one of the areas selected for a local area investigation by the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs.
The investigation will look at what happened in Birmingham, how organisations responded to child sexual exploitation, whether children were protected, and what lessons must be learned for local and national change. Victims and survivors will be at the centre of the Inquiry’s approach.
The investigation will focus initially on Birmingham but may extend to surrounding, connected or satellite areas where the evidence supports it. Evidence from this investigation will contribute to the Inquiry’s national findings and recommendations.
Why Birmingham has been selected
The decision to investigate Birmingham reflects a combination of factors and information, including victim and survivor experience, indications of prevalence, harm and risk, and public concern.
Birmingham has been selected because the information currently available provides a strong basis for examining how organisations identify, share information about and respond to child sexual exploitation across a large metropolitan area.
The Inquiry considers that this investigation offers an important opportunity to examine accountability, safeguarding and partnership working across Birmingham and, where the evidence supports it, interconnected areas.
What the Inquiry learns through this investigation will contribute to its national findings and recommendations.
What the investigation will examine
The investigation will examine the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by grooming gangs and the response of organisations responsible for protecting children.
It will look at what happened in Birmingham, how organisations responded, whether children were protected, and what lessons must be learned to prevent future abuse and harm.
The Inquiry will examine accountability, safeguarding and partnership working across Birmingham. The investigation will focus initially on Birmingham but may extend to surrounding, connected or satellite areas where the evidence supports it. The precise geographical and evidential scope will be developed as evidence is gathered.
The investigation will gather evidence from a range of sources, including documents, data and information held by organisations, as well as accounts from victims and survivors and other witnesses.
The Inquiry will analyse this evidence to understand what happened and identify where systems and organisations did not work as they should have.
The Inquiry may publish findings and updates as the investigation progresses.
If you are a victim or survivor in Birmingham
Your experience matters. If you were abused or exploited in Birmingham, or if you are a family member or friend of someone who was, the Inquiry wants to hear from you.
You can choose how and whether to take part. You will not be pressured to do anything you are not comfortable with.
You will not be required to give formal evidence unless you want to. There are different ways to share your experience, and support is available at every stage.
If you are an organisation or institution in Birmingham
Organisations that may hold relevant information must preserve it.
You must not destroy, conceal, or alter any documents, records, or data that could be relevant to the Inquiry. Destroying or altering evidence is a criminal offence under section 35 of the Inquiries Act 2005.
Details of how to share information securely will be published shortly.
If you wish to share information at this stage, please register your interest via the Contact page. We will provide further guidance as soon as the process is in place.
For general enquiries: contactus@grooming-gangs.independent-inquiry.uk
