Many will be aware of several UNN pieces regarding the grooming gang’s report. Almost 125,000 people have signed a petition that demands the “release of the official research on grooming gangs undertaken by the government in full”. Following this MPs have ordered the government to publicly state whether it will publish a review of grooming gang “characteristics” and explain its decision.
The government’s previous response was that the report would remain “internal” and would be used to inform an upcoming strategy on child sexual abuse. The Petitions Committee, which runs all things regarding petitions, has adjudicated, as a result of the petition passing 100,000 signatures, that the government had “not directly addressed the request”. In a letter to the home secretary the Chair of the petitions committee Catherine McKinnell MP has said that a revised response must be provided by 20 May.
Ms McKinnell’s letter states “This should clearly state whether the government will publish its research into the characteristics of group-based child sexual exploitation. If the government does plan to publish this, your response should set out in what form and when. If the government does not plan to publish this, your response should explain the reasons for this.”
Sajid Javid first promised this review whilst in post as home secretary in July 2018. Mr Javid stated there would be “no no-go areas of inquiry”. He said that abusers convicted in high-profile cases had been “disproportionately from a Pakistani background” and that “I will not let cultural or political sensitivities get in the way of understanding the problem and doing something about it”.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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