Birmingham City Council leader Roger Harmer has said the city will "welcome" the national inquiry into grooming gangs as Birmingham becomes the latest area investigated under the National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. In a statement released today (October 1), Cllr Harmer confirmed the council's support for the inquiry and Operation Beaconport, its next phase of targeted investigations.
Council's Three Commitments
Cllr Harmer outlined three commitments as part of the council's support. First, independently testing Birmingham's current safeguarding arrangements and building better, dedicated support for victims and historical survivors of grooming gangs. Second, working closely with the police and specialist organisations so that people affected by historical abuse know where they can seek help and report crimes. Third, launching a public awareness campaign so that families and communities can recognise the warning signs and know how to raise concerns.
The announcement follows yesterday's (September 30) confirmation that Birmingham had been added to the local areas of inquiry in the national probe, amid concerns surrounding the number of live and historic cases.
Republishing Historic Reports
Cllr Harmer said the city will "welcome" the inquiry, stating: "We understand that Birmingham has been selected because the information currently available provides a strong basis for examining how organisations identify, share information about and respond to child sexual exploitation across a large metropolitan area." He added: "We are also republishing the council's 1991 report and any other historic reports that can be located, so that the public can see the evidence for themselves."
The council leader made clear the city will "protect children, support survivors and pursue justice." He said: "Every child in Birmingham deserves to be safe. Every victim and survivor deserves to be heard. And every perpetrator, regardless of who they are or where they come from, must face justice."
Facing Difficult Questions
Cllr Harmer acknowledged past failures, saying: "For too many years, children were completely let down by failures in safeguarding, with victims and survivors living with the consequences. While we cannot change what happened, we can decide what happens next." He added Birmingham will "face this issue openly, honestly and without fear or favour" and will not "ignore difficult questions."
He said: "We will follow the evidence. We will not ignore difficult questions, including questions about ethnicity. But we will never allow child sexual exploitation to be used to divide communities or distract from the central truth: abuse is the responsibility of the abuser, and every child must be protected."
Cllr Harmer concluded: "Anyone who comes forward must be listened to, believed and supported. Birmingham is and will continue to cooperate fully with the national inquiry, but we will not wait to be told to act. We will protect children, support survivors and pursue justice. We will confront past failures and build a safeguarding system worthy of the trust placed in us and that is fit for today's challenges. This is not about protecting institutions or reputations; it is about protecting children. That is our responsibility, and we must meet it."
