Fact Check: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales on October 7, 2023.

Fact Check: "Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs in England and Wales on October 7, 2023."

What We Know

The claim that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs on October 7, 2023, is not supported by the available evidence. As of October 2023, there has been no official announcement from the Prime Minister regarding such an inquiry on that date. Instead, the Grooming Gangs Taskforce, established in April 2023, has been operational for several months, focusing on supporting police investigations into grooming gangs across England and Wales (Grooming Gangs Taskforce arrests hundreds in first year). This taskforce has already facilitated over 550 arrests and identified more than 4,000 victims (Grooming Gangs Taskforce arrests hundreds in first year).

Furthermore, recent news indicates that the Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, is the one who has proposed a statutory inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, not Prime Minister Sunak (Starmer U-turns on grooming gangs: PM orders statutory). This proposal comes after months of resistance from Starmer, highlighting a political shift rather than an initiative from Sunak.

Analysis

The claim in question misattributes the announcement of a statutory inquiry to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when, in fact, it was Sir Keir Starmer who made such a proposal. The timeline of events shows that the Grooming Gangs Taskforce was created by Sunak's government to address the issue of grooming gangs, but it does not equate to a full statutory inquiry (PM to clamp down on Grooming Gangs).

The sources regarding the taskforce are credible, as they come from official government announcements and reputable news outlets. The taskforce's establishment and its operational achievements are well-documented and have been reported by multiple sources (Grooming Gangs Taskforce arrests hundreds in first year, PM to clamp down on Grooming Gangs). However, the claim about Sunak announcing a statutory inquiry is misleading and lacks factual basis.

Additionally, the context surrounding the inquiry proposed by Starmer indicates a significant political development, emphasizing that the inquiry is a response to ongoing public and political pressure rather than a direct action taken by Sunak (Starmer U-turns on grooming gangs: PM orders statutory).

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs on October 7, 2023, is incorrect. The inquiry was proposed by Sir Keir Starmer, and there has been no announcement from Sunak regarding such an inquiry on that date. The existing Grooming Gangs Taskforce, established earlier in 2023, is focused on operational support for police investigations rather than conducting a statutory inquiry.

Sources

1. Grooming Gangs Taskforce arrests hundreds in first year
2. PM to clamp down on Grooming Gangs
3. Rishi Sunak criticises political correctness over grooming ...
4. Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom
5. Starmer U-turns on grooming gangs: PM orders statutory ...
6. The Guardian view on Sunak's grooming crackdown
7. Grooming gangs scandal timeline
8. Child sex abuse: Failure to report crimes to be made illegal