Grooming gang inquiry to focus on Oldham, Bradford and London
The first places to be investigated in a national independent inquiry into grooming gangs will be Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London.
The organization said the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, to be chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield CBE, would force individuals and organizations to reveal “what they are or are not doing to protect children from sexual abuse”.
The review will also examine whether changes have been made to places where reviews have been carried out in the past, such as Oxford and Rotherham.
Abuse survivor Fiona Goddard, who resigned from the investigation in October 2025, said it had been a “long battle”.
“Bradford has evaded investigations for many years and it is time the full truth about what happened comes out,” he said.
Goodard left the panel over concerns that two of the shortlisted chairmen had policing and social work backgrounds.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore, who called on the government to include Bradford in the investigation, said it was a “major milestone”.
“This investigation must seek the truth, no matter how horrific, and bring justice to those who have been failed for too long,” he said.
