Inquires into child sexual exploitation that have already taken place have either been too ‘broad’ or only focused on ‘specific places’, the government was warned yesterday.

There have already been several probes into abuse across the UK, including a seven-year long national inquiry led by Prof Alexis Jay which reported in 2022.

At the local level, investigations into the systematic rape and sexual assault of girls and young women by organised grooming gangs have also taken place in Rotherham, Telford, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Oldham, Rochdale and Bristol.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham noted yesterday that a review into Greater Manchester Police which he launched in 2017 was still ongoing.

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne told LBC yesterday: ‘There comes a point where we don’t need more inquiries, and had Elon Musk really paid attention to what’s been going on in this country, he might have recognised that there have already been inquiries.’

But critics argue that the inquiries that have already taken place were not focused on grooming gangs themselves, but rather the institutional failures which enabled criminal behaviour. 

A public inquiry would ensure individuals can be called in to give evidence under oath.

Prof Jay’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) released a report into organised networks, but only focused on six case study areas – Durham, Swansea, Warwickshire, St Helens, Tower Hamlets and Bristol. 

Other towns which have seen a grooming gang scandal have not had comprehensive inquiries.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip told MPs yesterday: ‘While the last government did initiate the IICSA inquiry under Prof Jay, that was mainly directed at other CSE issues and it only covered six of the towns involved in the gang rape scandal.’

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: ‘Previous reviews have looked at specific places and elements of the scandal, but nothing has explored it in totality. 

‘Such grave state failure warrants the same form of national inquiry we have undertaken in the past. Nothing less is acceptable.’

Former Justice Minister Laura Farris last night said the IICSA’s inquiry was ‘very broad’ and ‘did not focus on grooming gangs’.

One sex abuse survivor turned campaigner, Sammy Woodhouse, said Ms Jay’s report ‘hardly touched’ child sexual exploitation.

Ex-detective Maggie Oliver said previous inquiries have ‘led absolutely nowhere’ and suggested those leading them ‘have always wanted to cover up [and hide] the truth’.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said he would support a new national inquiry into grooming gangs, but only if the government deemed it necessary to launch one.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: ‘For us, we must complete the Greater Manchester review, police investigations are ongoing, I wouldn’t want anything to cut across those, but I wouldn’t stand against a further national review if that was deemed necessary.

‘There is a case for a relentless focus, and I understand when people say things because feelings run very high, understandably so, on the issue. But it is about dealing with it in a relentless way.’