Roundup Newswires

Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network

Police say extra funds to hunt grooming gangs in England and Wales will ‘likely fall short’

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Admin

Government announces a near tenfold increase but forces fear it will not cover anticipated cost of dedicated teams

Keir Starmer’s government has announced a near tenfold increase in funding for detectives hunting grooming gangs but has been warned by police that the amount will “likely fall short” of what is needed.

Operation Beaconport, which was set up last year to review closed group-based sexual exploitation inquiries in England and Wales, will receive nearly £38m, a Home Office statement said – up from £4m given last year.

Grooming gangs inquiry divided over the question of widening its focus

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Admin

Splits grow over its remit as survivors angered by effort to recruit chairs from professions that failed to protect them

Deep divisions surrounding Keir Starmer’s inquiry into grooming gangs were first disclosed by the Guardian last week. But for one of the survivors now refusing to take part, splits first emerged in July, a month after the inquiry was announced.

Fiona Goddard, who was abused by a gang while a teenager in a Bradford children’s home, said she and other grooming gang survivors were told in June that the inquiry would centre on group-based child sexual exploitation of girls by grooming gangs.