53 m. ago Cooper says law on rape being tightened so adults cannot use consent as defence against charge of raping child under 16 – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found some cases were downgraded from rape to lesser charges ‘because 13- to 15-year-old is perceived to have consented’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding...

Society

60 m. ago Children and teenage girls were blamed for crimes against them, ‘damning’ grooming gangs report finds

A ‘deeply disturbing’ report found organisations avoided race for fear of appearing racist or inflaming community tensions, Yvette Cooper said

Events

75 m. ago What is the new grooming gangs inquiry going to do after the Casey report?

A full statutory inquiry into UK grooming gangs will soon begin work

Events

1 hour ago Grooming gangs scandal: Damning key findings from the Casey review

The Government has now ordered a new national inquiry into grooming gangs after the shocking findings

Events

1 hour ago Authorities were in denial over Asian grooming gangs for fear of appearing racist, damning report finds as Yvette Coper apologises to victims... and FINALLY orders national inquiry

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that those who had suffered 'despicable crimes' had been 'let down' by the authorities.

Events

1 hour ago Audit found ‘clear evidence of representation’ of Asian and Pakistani men in grooming gang cases in local data, MPs told – UK politics live

Yvette Cooper tells parliament that Louise Casey audit found ‘organisations avoided topic for fear of appearing racist or raising community tensions’Starmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding an inquiry they never set...

Politics

2 h. ago Grooming gangs have 'nowhere to hide' Yvette Cooper vows as damning report published

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has told MPs the Government supports Baroness Louise Casey's call for a full national inquiry into grooming gangs to ensure lessons are learned

Events

3 h. ago Grooming gangs inquiry LIVE as 'damning' review to be published

The Home Secretary will make an announcement this afternoon

Events

4 h. ago Sky News host tears apart Top Tory's 'excuse' for not calling grooming gangs inquiry

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was torn apart by Sky News' Wilfred Frost after he slammed Keir Starmer for not launching a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs more quickly

Events

4 h. ago Grooming gangs review to be unveiled as PM’s inquiry plan gets mixed reaction

The Home Secretary is set to address Parliament over the review as the Prime Minister has committed to a national inquiry.

Events

4 h. ago Councils and institutions who failed young girls ‘will not be able to hide’ from new grooming gangs inquiry

Sir Keir Starmer bowed to months of mounting pressure over the issue ahead of the publication of a new report by Louise Casey

Events

5 h. ago No 10 says Starmer stands by claim Tories were jumping on far

Prime minister’s comments were about ‘ministers from previous government who sat in office for years and did nothing’, says No 10 spokespersonStarmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn his interview on the Sky News this morning Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that Keir Starmer should apologise for saying in January that those calling for a national inquiry into grooming gangs were jumping on a far-right bandwagon. Kemi Badenoch, his party leader, is also quoted today in an Daily Express splash story saying Starmer should apologise, but she is saying he should apologise for not agreeing to hold a national inquiry earlier.At the Downing Street lobby briefing this morning the No 10 spokesperson was asked if Starmer still thought that people who backed a national inquiry in January were joining a far-right bandwagon. In response, the spokesperson defended the phrase, and insisted that it only applied to Tories who were now demanding an inquiry they never set up whe...

Politics

6 h. ago ‘Hundreds of people’ could deserve jail over grooming gangs cover

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, says there was deliberate action by some police, council leaders, social workers and prosecutors to hide abuseStarmer launches new grooming gangs investigationIn a recent report the Commons defence committee said that the armed forces covenant, a legal promise to veterans saying that they should not lose out when accessing government services because of their service in the military, should be extended. It said:While some people had positive experiences to share, a worrying number [of veterans] felt that the covenant had been ineffective—or worse yet, had been disregarded—when they had cited it. As a result, many continued to face disadvantages as a result of their service in areas like healthcare, education, employment and welfare .We welcome the government’s intention to extend the covenant legal duty, which currently requires some public service providers to give due regard to the covenant’s principles when providing certain housing, health...

Events

7 h. ago Labour ‘owe an apology’ for delay in grooming gangs inquiry, ex

Sir Keir Starmer bowed to months of mounting pressure over the issue ahead of the publication of a new report by Louise Casey

Events

7 h. ago 'How could so many people turn a blind eye?': The question UK must answer after grooming gangs inquiry U

Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to a new national inquiry after a review by Baroness Louise Casey

Events

9 h. ago Damning report into grooming gangs failures set to be released TODAY after Keir Starmer's humiliating U

The review by Baroness Casey is expected to conclude that years of warnings about abuse of white girls were 'institutionally ignored for fear of racism'.

Events

16 h. ago SUE REID: I uncovered the grooming gangs scandal 15 years ago

At last Sir Keir Starmer has announced a national inquiry into the mass-rape gangs prowling the streets of our towns and cities to target young girls for sex. And not before time.

Events

19 h. ago Starmer in full retreat over grooming gangs: Now PM calls in 'Britain's FBI' to investigate after dramatic U

The Prime Minister was scrambling to appear decisive after resisting action on the scandal for months.

Events

19 h. ago Keir Starmer bows to pressure to launch new grooming gangs investigation

New probe and statutory public inquiry will be a means to get ‘truth and justice’, home secretary saysKeir Starmer has launched a sweeping national operation to investigate grooming gangs and a statutory inquiry into institutional failure, marking a significant reversal after months of pressure on Labour to act.The National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK’s top investigative body, has been tasked with leading a coordinated national push to reopen historic group-based child sexual abuse cases and identify offenders who slipped through the cracks of previous police efforts. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago Grooming gang survivors say inquiry must finally get answers as police launch major crackdown

Keir Starmer has now committed to a nationwide statutory inquiry into the scandal of systematic sexual exploitation of young girls in a number of towns in England

Events