Sir Trevor Phillips has launched a scathing attack on the Government’s handling of grooming gang inquiries, branding their approach “utterly shameful” and accusing ministers of abandoning promised local reviews for political convenience.
The former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said the decision not to pursue comprehensive local inquiries in five towns was “obviously political”, pointing to the sensitive demographics involved and the fact that many of the affected areas are Labour-held.
Speaking to Times Radio, Sir Trevor remarked: “I think what the Government is doing on that question is utterly, utterly shameful. It’s so obvious they’re not doing this because of the demographic of people involved… largely Pakistani Muslim background, and also in Labour-held seats and councils who would be offended by it.”
He added: “That’s clearly the reason that they’re not pursuing this. And it is utterly shameful given what has been done to these children by these men.”
His comments follow growing criticism after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips failed to deliver a clear update in Parliament on the previously promised local reviews into historic grooming gang cases. Instead, she unveiled a £5 million fund intended to support a broader range of “locally-led work” on the issue, including independent inquiries, local victim panels and audits.
This move has been interpreted by many as a backtrack from earlier promises, prompting backlash across the political spectrum. Conservative frontbencher Katie Lam said the decision to forego compulsory local inquiries amounted to “watering down” previous commitments. “Local inquiries were already the bare minimum – now the Government is diluting them further,” she said.
The inquiries were originally announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in January, who pledged “victim-centred, locally-led” investigations in five areas, including Oldham in Greater Manchester – one of several towns where reports of grooming gangs have led to public outcry and demands for justice.
Defending the decision, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Times Radio: “No, it’s not the truth that we’re watering anything down. The truth is that we are listening to victims and authorities around the country about the need to give them the right tools to tackle this very pernicious problem in their own areas.”
She added that communities themselves are best placed to respond to the issue, saying: “We believe that decisions are best made by those with skin in the game in their own communities, people who live in those communities, who understand what is happening there.”
The controversy comes in the wake of the landmark Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which concluded in 2022 after seven years of investigation. The inquiry uncovered widespread institutional failings across England and Wales and estimated that tens of thousands of children had been victims of abuse. It recommended the establishment of a national child protection authority and stronger local safeguarding measures.
On Tuesday, Ms Phillips announced the creation of a new child protection authority, fulfilling one of IICSA’s central recommendations. She also pledged to double national funding for services supporting adult survivors of abuse.
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A spokesperson from the Home Office strongly denied accusations of political interference or reluctance to offend specific communities. “It is wholly wrong to claim the Government is cancelling local child sexual abuse inquiries,” the spokesperson said. “We will pursue justice for victims without fear or favour, and claims we would not do so to avoid offending any group are false.”
The spokesperson added: “This Government is taking decisive action to finally tackle grooming gangs, strengthening the Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce, giving victims more powers to have their cases reviewed, and making it a criminal offence to cover up any report of child sexual abuse.”
Additionally, a rapid national audit led by Baroness Casey is currently underway, examining the true scale of grooming gangs across the UK, including the role of ethnicity in offending patterns.
Despite these assurances, critics maintain that justice must be not only done but seen to be done — and that the Government’s current approach falls short of the transparency and accountability survivors deserve.
