Police re-evaluate 287 kid sexual exploitation instances

Fresh investigations may well be introduced into 287 kid sexual exploitation instances that were dropped by means of native police forces, Yvette Cooper has instructed MPs.

The house secretary stated the instances were passed to a countrywide police taskforce which is able to take a look at whether or not to reopen them and “pursue any new lines of inquiry that have not been properly pursued”.

In January, Cooper requested all police forces in England and Wales to “look again at historic gang exploitation cases where ‘No Further Action’ was taken”.

So a long way part of the forces have reported again, with 287 instances recognized for overview by means of the nationwide Police Child Sexual Exploitation Taskforce.

“Now we are awaiting reports back from the other half of police forces,” Cooper instructed the Commons Home Affairs Committee previous on Tuesday.

The govt has resisted opposition requires a countrywide inquiry into grooming gangs with powers to compel witnesses to present proof.

Instead, it has pledged £5m in investment for a minimum of 5 native inquiries, together with in Oldham, Greater Manchester, the place Cooper stated paintings is “under way already”.

The Home Office additionally commissioned veteran Whitehall troubleshooter Dame Louise Casey to hold out a “rapid” overview of the character and scale of group-based kid sexual abuse, and to attract up a framework for the native inquiries.

Casey were because of unlock her file final month however has requested for a “short extension,” Cooper instructed MPs.

“We do need her audit to inform the next steps and decisions around the local inquiries,” she stated.

In January, the nationwide taskforce reported that there have been 127 primary police investigations underway on kid sexual exploitation and gang grooming throughout 29 other police forces.