Chair of grooming gangs inquiry lastly named after victims failed for years

A former children’s commissioner will chair the national inquiry into grooming gangs, the Government has confirmed.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that Baroness Anne Longfield will head the inquiry after months of delays. Ms Mahmood said there had been an “abject failure” by the state to protect the young and vulnerable – while some in power “turned a blind eye to the horror”.

In June Keir Starmer announced the national probe into the sickening abuse of young girls. Ms Mahmood told the Commons the inquiry will be a series of local investigations overseen by a national panel with full statutory powers.

Ms Mahmood said: “The evil men who committed these crimes and thought they got away with it will find they have nowhere to hide.” The Home Secretary said more than 1,200 cases have already been flagged for reinvestigation – including 200 priority cases of rape.

In October, the final two candidates to chair the inquiry dropped out of the process. Five women also resigned from the inquiry’s victim liaison panel in a row over the scope of the probe being potentially widened.

The inquiry follows a recommendation made by Baroness Louise Casey in her rapid audit looking at the scale of grooming gangs across the country.

Ms Mahmood told the Commons: “I know that for many this day is long overdue. For years the victims of these awful crimes were ignored. First abused by vile predators, they then found themselves belittled and even blamed when it was justice they were owed.”

The Home Secretary went on: “Like every member of my community who I know, I am horrified by these acts. We must root out this evil once and for all.

“The sickening acts of a minority of evil men, as well as those in positions of authority, who look the other way, must not be allowed to marginalise or demonise entire communities of law abiding citizens.“