Welsh Tory leader urges full cooperation as UK Government launches statutory review

A FULL statutory inquiry into grooming gangs operating across England and Wales has been announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, following a new report by Baroness Casey into historic abuse and institutional failings.

The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons this week outlining the scope of the inquiry, which will investigate the systemic failures that allowed grooming gangs to operate for years without proper intervention from police, local authorities, or social services.

Welcoming the announcement, Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS said: “While this inquiry is welcome, it is long overdue.

“Every month of delay in getting to this position has caused even more hurt to those brave victims who have spoken out about their harrowing experiences and campaigned for justice.

“When I raised the need for an inquiry in the Senedd back in January, other politicians tried to shut me down, but it made me all the more determined to fight for the vulnerable victims of these crimes.”

Mr Millar stressed that Wales must not be overlooked.

“Wales must not be an afterthought in this inquiry. It is essential that it looks in detail at the extent to which grooming gangs have been operating here, listens to victims, and that perpetrators are brought to justice.

“The Welsh Government, local authorities, the police and other stakeholders must cooperate fully with the inquiry and no stone should be left unturned in seeking the truth.”

Cross-party concern

While the announcement has been broadly welcomed across political lines, some Senedd Members have called for the inquiry to ensure its findings are used to improve safeguarding frameworks, not just deliver justice retrospectively.

A spokesperson for Plaid Cymru told The Herald: “Protecting children must be at the heart of this. We must ensure that frontline services in Wales are properly resourced and trained to spot the warning signs and intervene early. Political point-scoring on this issue risks undermining the confidence of survivors.”

Victim voices and community fears

Survivor groups have also welcomed the inquiry but warned that victims in Wales must not be forgotten. One group told The Herald they had received disclosures from individuals in North Wales and South Wales who felt unsupported or silenced.

There are also concerns from some community leaders that public messaging must avoid inflaming racial or religious tensions. In past cases in England, investigations revealed that some authorities hesitated to act for fear of being seen as racist—something Baroness Casey’s report condemned as a failure of duty.

A Welsh safeguarding expert told The Herald: “Abuse happens across all communities. While the inquiry must investigate failures wherever they occurred, we must also ensure it does not contribute to the stigmatisation of minority groups. The focus must remain on institutional accountability and the protection of children.”

The Welsh Conservatives have long called for a Wales-specific inquiry, particularly in the absence of earlier UK-wide action. Baroness Casey’s latest report is expected to be a key piece of evidence underpinning the new statutory investigation.

The Prime Minister has said the inquiry will have “full powers” to compel witnesses and demand documents, and that victims will be placed “at the centre” of its work.

Photo caption:
Justice call: Darren Millar MS says grooming victims in Wales must not be forgotten (Pic: Welsh Conservatives)