Birmingham must be included in the new national inquiry into grooming gangs and must not be 'overlooked', according to the city's Conservative Party leader Robert Alden. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new statutory inquiry into grooming gangs in June last year. Further details, including which areas and councils will be investigated, are expected in the coming weeks.
Alden calls for Birmingham's inclusion
Birmingham Tory leader Robert Alden has today (June 9) called for the city to be part of the investigation into the grooming scandal. In a letter to inquiry chair Baroness Longfield, the Erdington councillor said victims in Birmingham 'must not be overlooked'. He argued that any investigation seeking the 'full truth' must 'examine Birmingham's record'.
'Victims and survivors in Birmingham deserve to have their voices heard,' wrote Mr Alden. 'Any inquiry that aims to uncover the truth about grooming gangs and the institutional failures that allowed these horrific crimes to occur cannot afford to overlook the UK's second city. Birmingham sadly has a history of group-based child sexual exploitation, stretching back decades. We owe it to victims and all residents to ensure that every failure is examined, to ensure it never happens again, and those responsible for the horrific crimes or for failing to protect vulnerable children are held accountable.'
Importance of Birmingham's role
The Conservatives said the city's inclusion 'is essential to provide a complete national picture of grooming gang activity'. As a major transport hub, they noted Birmingham 'could provide important evidence about how grooming networks operate across different parts of the UK'. Mr Alden added: 'This is about justice, accountability and protecting children. Victims have waited too long for answers. Birmingham must play its full part in ensuring the Inquiry leaves no stone unturned. We stand ready to support the Inquiry in every way possible and hope Birmingham will be added to the list of local authority investigations as soon as possible.'
A party spokesperson said: 'The request follows on from the successful Conservative-led motion passed by Birmingham City Council in June 2025 supporting full co-operation with any inquiry into grooming gangs and requiring the preservation of relevant records. The motion, proposed by the Conservative Group, received cross-party support and demonstrated the city's willingness to engage openly and transparently with any investigation. The Conservative Group believes that examining Birmingham's experience would strengthen the Inquiry's findings, help identify systemic failures across agencies, and contribute to national reforms designed to prevent future child sexual exploitation.'
The Government committed to an inquiry in June 2025, and Ms Longfield was appointed as chair in December.
