Fact Check: The inquiry into grooming gangs will be statutory under the Inquiries Act, allowing it to compel witnesses to provide evidence.

Fact Check: "The inquiry into grooming gangs will be statutory under the Inquiries Act, allowing it to compel witnesses to provide evidence."

What We Know

The recent announcement regarding the inquiry into grooming gangs in the UK has confirmed that it will be a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act. This means that the inquiry will have the authority to compel witnesses to provide evidence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated, "it will be statutory under the Inquiries Act," emphasizing that this structure is necessary to ensure thorough investigations (source-1). The inquiry is a response to an audit led by Baroness Louise Casey, which highlighted the need for a comprehensive investigation into group-based child sexual abuse across England and Wales (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that the inquiry will be statutory and able to compel witnesses is supported by multiple reliable sources. The Prime Minister's announcement explicitly stated the statutory nature of the inquiry, which is crucial for its ability to summon witnesses and gather evidence effectively (source-3). This statutory framework is designed to ensure that the inquiry can operate independently and with the necessary legal powers to investigate thoroughly.

Critics of the government's previous stance, including Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, have pointed out that earlier proposals lacked the authority to compel witnesses, making them inadequate for a comprehensive investigation (source-2). The shift to a statutory inquiry reflects a significant change in government policy, responding to public and political pressure for a more robust investigation into the grooming gangs issue.

The sources used in this analysis are credible news outlets, including the BBC and Yahoo News, which are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking practices. The information provided is consistent across multiple reports, reinforcing the reliability of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The inquiry into grooming gangs will indeed be statutory under the Inquiries Act, allowing it to compel witnesses to provide evidence. This conclusion is based on the explicit statements made by the Prime Minister and corroborated by multiple reliable sources.

Sources

1. PM announces national inquiry into grooming gangs
2. Yvette Cooper announces inquiries into grooming gangs
3. PM announces full inquiry into grooming gangs after ...
4. Grooming gangs: Keir Starmer orders full-scale national ...
5. UK PM Starmer approves national inquiry into Britain's '...
6. Starmer bows to pressure to hold national grooming gangs ...
7. PM announces national inquiry into grooming gangs
8. Christopher Hope - X