News

Questions raised after Children’s Commissioner omits grooming-gang reference

Published

3 months ago

October 22, 2025

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have criticised this year’s annual report from the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, arguing that it makes no mention of child-grooming gangs or organised sexual exploitation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Dr Altaf Hussain MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, said the omission was “deeply concerning” and renewed calls for a Wales-wide independent inquiry into grooming-gang activity.

He warned that Wales must not be treated as an “afterthought” in the UK-wide response to group-based child sexual exploitation, adding: “We need to understand the full extent of these problems in Wales so that we can protect vulnerable children and ensure perpetrators are held to account for their horrific crimes.”

Commissioner’s report focuses elsewhere

The Children’s Commissioner’s Annual Report 2024-25, published earlier this month, runs to more than 60 pages and covers a wide range of safeguarding and welfare concerns raised with the office over the past year.

It highlights casework involving school bullying, mental-health provision, housing problems, and failures in social-services responses, but there is no reference to grooming gangs or group-based sexual exploitation anywhere in the document.

Instead, the Commissioner’s team emphasised ongoing work around child protection procedures, neurodiversity, mental-health access, and poverty reduction, reflecting the areas in which most referrals and complaints were received.

When asked why grooming-gang issues were not addressed, officials pointed out that the report represents casework handled by the Commissioner’s office, not a complete audit of all child-safety risks in Wales.

The wider picture in Wales

While Wales has not seen the same large-scale scandals as Rotherham or Telford, child sexual exploitation (CSE) remains a recognised risk.

All four Welsh police forces have dedicated CSE units investigating both online grooming and small-scale networks. Recent prosecutions in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport have involved multiple offenders exploiting minors through social media or coercive relationships.

However, experts stress that most Welsh cases involve individual or small-group exploitation, not the extensive organised networks seen elsewhere in the UK.

An independent Home Office review in 2022 concluded that Wales did not exhibit a high concentration of grooming-gang activity but warned that no part of the UK is immune and urged continued vigilance.

Calls for vigilance and transparency

Child-protection charities say that while Wales’ safeguarding framework is strong, the public needs reassurance that authorities are alert to all forms of exploitation.

A spokesperson for a national child-protection charity told The Herald:
“It would be helpful if the Commissioner’s report explicitly acknowledged that organised sexual exploitation can occur anywhere. Even one case is too many, and survivors must know there are places to turn for help.”

Supporters of the Commissioner’s approach counter that focusing on the most common and immediate issues—such as school safety, mental health and family support—delivers the greatest impact for children overall.

The Welsh Government’s All-Wales Safeguarding Procedures already include guidance on child sexual exploitation, and police forces continue to share intelligence through the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme.

Whether future Children’s Commissioner reports should include explicit reference to grooming-gang activity may now form part of a wider debate about public transparency and reassurance, rather than the scale of the problem itself.

Cover pic:

Released new report: Children’s Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes

News

Welsh Government outlines progress on fisheries strategy after first year

Published

53 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ministers say new management plans, enforcement action and funding are strengthening the future of Welsh fishing communities

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has published an update on its long-term strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Wales, claiming “significant progress” one year after the policy was formally introduced.

In a written statement issued on Thursday (Jan 29), Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said the approach was designed to create a more sustainable, well-regulated and economically resilient fishing sector.

The strategy, first set out in December 2024 following consultation with the Ministerial Advisory Group for Welsh Fisheries, focuses on three core areas: delivering Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), meeting Wales’ statutory duties around fisheries enforcement and monitoring, and fulfilling national and international obligations following the UK’s exit from the EU.’

Management plans and consultations

Ministers say progress has been made on the development of FMPs, which are intended to manage fish stocks on a long-term, evidence-based footing. Wales is expected to launch its first Wales-only FMP later this year, covering crab and lobster fisheries, while also contributing to five joint UK plans.

A separate public consultation on changes to scallop fishing management, linked to the King Scallop FMP published in 2023, is currently under way and due to close on Friday (Jan 31).

The Welsh Government says it has also introduced an adaptive cockle management system, adjusted rules for the whelk fishery, and launched a recreational bluefin tuna fishery, all based on updated scientific advice.

Enforcement and prosecutions

On enforcement, ministers highlighted eight successful prosecutions relating to misreporting of Dover sole, resulting in fines and costs totalling £950,000, alongside 20 fixed penalty notices for other fisheries offences.

Officials say they have continued to work with other UK enforcement agencies to monitor both domestic and international vessels operating in Welsh waters, arguing that tougher enforcement is essential to protect stocks and ensure a level playing field for compliant fishers.

Funding and support for coastal communities

The statement also points to continued public investment in the sector. During 2025, more than £1.14 million was awarded through Round 5 of the Welsh Marine and Fisheries Scheme, with a further £430,000 distributed via the Coastal Capacity Building Fund.

An additional £1.29 million has been added to the fisheries budget for 2026/27, with Round 6 of the Welsh Marine and Fisheries Scheme opening earlier this month and carrying an increased budget.

Other measures cited include grants to support the installation of inshore vessel monitoring systems, new multi-year marine science contracts, and research into the economic and carbon impacts of the Welsh fishing fleet.

Wellbeing and resilience

The government says it is also focusing on workforce resilience, with supply-chain initiatives, wellbeing projects and seven upcoming Seafit Wales “Stronger at Sea” events planned across February and March. These events will offer free health and dental checks to fishers and their immediate families.

Ongoing debate

While ministers say the strategy has delivered a “stronger foundation” for the future, fishing organisations have previously warned that tighter controls, rising fuel costs and regulatory complexity continue to place pressure on small-scale operators.

The Welsh Government maintains that collaboration with fishers and coastal communities will remain central as further management plans and funding programmes are rolled out.

Ministers say the next phase will focus on building on the framework already in place, while balancing environmental sustainability with the economic realities facing Wales’ fishing ports and coastal towns.

Entertainment

Companies awarded funding as part of Made in Wales: Factual Entertainment project

Published

1 hour ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network and Creative Wales have awarded four Wales-based production companies funding to develop ideas for a new Factual Entertainment series

BBC CYMRU WALES, BBC Network, and Creative Wales announced the launch of a new development fund for a Factual Entertainment series at the Wales Media Summit last year.

Production companies with a substantive base in Wales were invited to pitch bold, original ideas that celebrate Welsh creativity while delivering unforgettable entertainment to audiences across the UK.

Boom, Curve Media, South Shore and Tŷ’r Ddraig have successfully been awarded funding to further develop their ideas for a new Factual Entertainment series. Each company will receive £10,000 of funding, with development starting in the coming weeks.

Nick Andrews, Head of Commissioning BBC Cymru Wales, said: “We were really impressed by the variety and volume of the submissions we received – companies really responded to our call for ideas for an ambitious, returnable format, that surprises, unites, and captivates. We’re so excited to be working with the four successful companies, and we’re looking forward to seeing how their ideas develop further.”

Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Events, said: “Made in Wales is a collaboration to find a major new factual entertainment series that will harness the best of Welsh creativity and resonate across the UK. We are really looking forward to working with brilliant Welsh talent to come up with the next big thing.”

Joedi Langley, Interim Head of Creative Wales, said: “This announcement follows a recently published and updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Creative Wales and BBC, a commitment between the two organisations to work together to support the vibrant, diverse, world-class screen industries in Wales.

“This new development funding will do just that – create new opportunities for Welsh based production companies to develop exciting, original ideas for factual content. Congratulations to the indies, we look forward to seeing what comes next!”

The total funding of £40,000 has been provided by BBC Cymru Wales, BBC Network and the Welsh Government via Creative Wales.

Climate

Wales takes another giant leap towards becoming a zero-waste nation

Published

1 hour ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE LATEST figures are in, and they’re impressive – Wales has pushed its recycling rate up to 68.4% in 2024-25, climbing from 66.6% the previous year. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a country that was recycling just 5% of its waste before devolution.

The boost comes as Wales’ new workplace recycling rules begin to show real results. Businesses, public sector organisations and third sector workplaces across the country are now required to separate key recyclable materials, and it’s making a measurable difference.

Local authorities collected an additional 8,187 tonnes of recyclable material from workplaces this year – that’s a 42% jump compared to last year. Meanwhile, residual waste from workplaces has dropped by 15.8%, meaning thousands of tonnes of valuable materials are being fed back into the economy rather than burned or buried.

The landfill figures tell their own story – just 0.7% of Wales’ waste ended up in landfill in 2024-25, compared to 95% before devolution.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who has responsibility for climate change, said: “We continue to build on Wales’ already world class recycling. This shows the huge shift in attitudes over the last few decades; recycling is now a part of who we are as a nation.”

He added: “I’m proud of every person in Wales who has played their part in getting us to where we are today – in our homes and now in our workplaces too. Thank you for joining this collective effort.”

Wales currently sits second in the world for recycling – leading the UK and trailing only Austria in global rankings published by Eunomia Research and Consulting and Reloop in 2024. More than half of Welsh councils hit the 70% recycling target, and over 90% improved their rates year-on-year.

The Deputy First Minister said: “Our recycling track record is something to be proud of as we continue taking action to tackle the climate and nature emergency and grow the green economy. But let’s not be complacent. Being number one in the world for recycling is within our grasp if we keep up the momentum.”