The government's national inquiry into child sexual abuse carried out by group-based exploitation, commonly referred to as grooming gangs, is set to be led by former Children’s Commissioner for England, Baroness Anne Longfield. This appointment follows significant setbacks in October, when the investigation was derailed after four women resigned from its survivors panel, and two primary candidates for the chairmanship withdrew their applications. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the appointment in the House of Commons, highlighting that Baroness Longfield has "devoted her life to children's rights," reports The WP Times with reference to the BBC.
The nationwide inquiry was initially announced by the Prime Minister in June, following the acceptance of a key recommendation. This recommendation stemmed from an audit conducted by Baroness Louise Casey, which reviewed evidence concerning the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse across the UK.
Baroness Longfield, who served as the Children's Commissioner for England from 2015 to 2021, will not be working alone. She will be joined by a distinguished panel of experts to lead the investigation.
The panellists include Zoe Billingham CBE, a former inspector at Her Majesty's Constabulary, and Eleanor Kelly CBE, who previously served as the chief executive of Southwark Council.
Home Secretary Mahmood stated that both Baroness Longfield and the two panellists were recommended by Baroness Casey herself following "recent engagement with victims." The new leadership team is scheduled to meet with survivors later this week.
In accepting her new role, Baroness Longfield underscored the profound responsibility of the inquiry. She stated that the investigation "owes it to the victims, survivors and the wider public to identify the truth, address past failings and ensure that children and young people today are protected in a way that others were not."
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