Yvette Cooper has alluded to a national inquiry into grooming gangs, after historically refusing one for claiming that “we’ve already had one”. The Home Secretary is now hinting at the possibility of probing into the horrific events, saying she would “look at” the options. This comes ahead of Baroness Casey’s report into the rape gangs, with Ms cooper claiming she would look at what is needed.
The U-turn follows the Labour minister ignoring nationwide calls for an inquiry. She instead proposed “local” investigations into the scandal, which many called an injustice to the victims. Ms Cooper called off a national probe just last month as she said: “We’ve already had a seven-year statutory inquiry into child sexual abuse”.
However, the Home Secretary has flip-flopped on her position, claiming that her “big concern” was for police to “take much stronger action right now” on the rape gangs.
Cross-party supporters, including Reform’s Nigel Farage and the Conservatives’ Chris Philp, are calling for an 18-month inquiry under parliamentary statute, investigating institutions or individuals responsible for covering up the crimes.
Speaking on the BBC on Sunday, Ms Cooper explained the importance of reopening previously “closed” cases and investigating crimes where no follow-up action was taken.
“The most urgent thing is we still need much stronger police investigations into these crimes, we need to see more of these perpetrators behind bars,” Ms Cooper said.
The Home Secretary was then asked if the Government would change its position on rejecting a national probe into the rape gangs.
She responded: “What we’ll look at is what is the action that is needed to deliver change and to make sure both that victims can get justice and also that perpetrators can end up behind bars.”
However, Ms Cooper said she had not yet received Baroness Casey’s recommendations, but insisted she would “look at all of them”.
The report into the scandal, which examines the scale, nature, and profile of the gangs behind it, is due later this month.
“We need that police investigation to pursue those perpetrators and prevent those crimes taking place, including historic[al] crimes, as well as crimes that are still taking place,” Ms Cooper added.
