Latest news with #BaronessCasey
The Independent
11 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Nearly 300 historic child grooming gang cases to be looked at again
Hundreds of historic child sex abuse cases could be re-opened after police forces carried out reviews ordered by the Home Secretary to tackle grooming gangs. Some 287 closed cases have been identified so far by police to be looked at again by a national task force on child sexual exploitation, Yvette Cooper told a committee of MPs on Tuesday. In January, the Home Secretary urged chief constables in England and Wales to reopen cold case investigations, as she also announced a rapid review by Baroness Casey to look at the nature and scale of gang-based exploitation across the country. Ms Cooper has also vowed for at least five local inquiries to take place, including in Oldham, Greater Manchester where work is 'under way already'. The series of announcements to tackle child grooming gangs came as the Government faced pressure over the issue, including criticism from billionaire X owner Elon Musk. Ms Cooper told the Home Affairs Select Committee half of police forces have reported back to the Home Office after reviewing past investigations. 'As you will know, I have also always said the most important thing is to get perpetrators behind bars and to make sure that they face justice for these horrendous crimes,' she said. 'I did ask all police forces to review historic cases. 'We've asked them to review cases that were closed, where no further action was taken and where there are cases, to then work with the police child sexual exploitation task force … which has considerable expertise, to then review those cases and to look to reopen and pursue any new lines of inquiry that have not been properly pursued.' Of half of the forces who have reported back, she said: 'For those forces, 287 historic cases have been identified for review by the police child sexual exploitation task force.' The move comes after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), led by Professor Alexis Jay, found institutional failings and tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales. The seven-year probe made 20 recommendations in the final report published in 2022, as it described child sexual abuse as an 'epidemic' across the two nations. The Government had knocked back calls for a national review in favour of locally led inquiries, saying it was focused on implementing recommendations from Prof Jay's report. Ms Cooper also told the committee Baroness Casey has asked for a short extension to complete the national audit, before the Government can set out next steps for local inquiries and how they will run. 'Once the Casey review and the Casey audit has reported back to us, we will set out those next steps, both about how we will then expect local inquiries to be taken forward, and also the funding support that we will give,' she said. It was previously announced a funding pot of £5 million would be available for local authorities to support locally led work on grooming gangs.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Grooming survivors to speak to Newsnight
Update: Date: 21:56 BST Title: Phillips apologises for delay to grooming gang report Content: Earlier today Home Office Minister Jess Phillips apologised to MPs for a delay to the publication of a report on grooming gangs. In January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a "rapid" three-month audit into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. Asked about the status of the review in the House of Commons earlier, which was due to be published in May, Phillips said she was sorry for the wait and that Baroness Casey requested a short extension, adding that it was expected "very shortly". "When we have the report the government will respond to it and lay out its plans with all the evidence in hand,' she told MPs. Update: Date: 21:50 BST Title: What's in store on tonight's programme? Content: Victoria Derbyshire presents tonight's programme You'll be able to watch tonight's programme live as Victoria Derbyshire is joined by five survivors in the studio from 22:30 - we'll share some background on their stories before the programme begins. We'll also hear from England and Wales' most senior police officer on grooming, Deputy Chief Constable Becky Riggs, on how authorities are responding. Before we begin, a reminder that some of the details we'll be sharing tonight will be distressing to hear. Update: Date: 21:45 BST Title: Survivors of grooming to speak to BBC Newsnight Content: Victoria DerbyshireNewsnight presenter Tonight, live, in a specially-extended programme, we have brought together survivors of gangs and individuals who groomed and raped women when they were young girls and teenagers. Their abusers were mostly British Asian men and they operated in plain sight in towns and cities like Rotherham, Telford, Bradford, High Wycombe and Manchester, over a decade and half through the late '90s and 2000s. It's an epidemic that has wrecked the lives of thousands of victims – these women included. They are here tonight to tell you about what happened to them, and because they say that some of the men who abused and raped them, and some of those in authority who totally failed to protect them, have still not been held accountable - and they want that to change. Expected in the next week or so is a government-commissioned "rapid" national audit of grooming gangs, led by Baroness Louise Casey. The government has promised it will uncover the "true scale of grooming gangs in the UK, including looking at ethnicity". As you'd expect, our conversation is going to be frank, open and it will involve details of sexual abuse. We're incredibly grateful to the incredible women for speaking to us tonight - Jade, Chantelle, Fiona, Kate and Zara. You'll be able to watch the programme live on the page from 22:30.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Jess Phillips apologises for grooming gangs report delay
Home Office Minister Jess Phillips has apologised to MPs for a delay to the publication of a report on grooming January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a "rapid" three-month audit into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Conservative frontbencher Katie Lam said Baroness Casey's review, along with a framework for local grooming gang inquiries, had been due for publication in May and asked for an updated timeline. Phillips told MPs she was sorry for the "month's wait" but added "I've waited 14 years", a reference to the length of time the Conservatives were in government. The minister said Baroness Casey had requested a "short extension" to her work and that it was expected "very shortly". "When we have the report the government will respond to it and lay out its plans with all the evidence in hand," she added. At the start of the year, the government dismissed calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, arguing it had already been examined in a seven-year inquiry, led by Prof Alexis Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a "rapid audit" led by Baroness Casey to examine the "data and evidence to draw a comprehensive picture of the nature, scale and profile of group-based child sexual abuse offending". She also announced an initial pot of £5m for "victim-centred locally-led inquiries" to be held in Oldham and four other areas, yet to be named. In April, Phillips told the House of Commons she expected there would be further inquires beyond the initial five announced. She told MPs she would provide more details about the local inquiries once Baroness Casey's audit had been published. The Conservatives have continued to call for a nationwide inquiry with powers to compel people to give evidence, arguing that some local areas would be unwilling to hold their own said if Baroness Casey identified problems with particular local authorities, "I will pursue them".
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social care leaders warn of tough times without ‘significant new funding'
The coming months for people needing social care are likely to be 'the most difficult we've seen in recent years' unless significant new funding is announced soon, almost 100 leaders in the sector have warned. Next month's spending review is a 'crucial opportunity' for the Government to show its commitment to the future of adult social care, the leaders said in a statement to the Chancellor. Rachel Reeves will deliver her review, setting out plans for spending and key public sector reforms, on June 11. The call comes just weeks after the formal launch of the Casey Commission, which the Government ordered with an aim of transforming social care. The first phase of the review, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years. Social care leaders have already raised concerns over the potential timeline of 2036 for some reforms to be introduced. The second phase of the commission, setting out longer-term reforms, is due to report by 2028. A statement to Ms Reeves, published on Thursday, has been signed by dozens of sector leaders, including the Local Government Association, which represents councils providing care, as well as Mencap, Carers UK and the Homecare Association. In it, they said: 'Despite the best efforts of councils, care providers, the voluntary sector and the workforce, we all know that adult social care is not operating at its best. 'People who have cause to draw on support know that best of all. Report after report shows the consequences of under-investment over many years – on people, families, communities, businesses and other public services.' Referencing the Casey Commission, they said, 'resolving the long-term requires stability in the short-term and strong foundations from which to take forward meaningful reform'. They said while previous governments have sought savings and efficiencies to help plug immediate gaps, 'the scope for those is now extremely limited and the clear reality is that current funding levels are insufficient to tackle the challenges facing the sector, such as inflation, demography, workforce recruitment and retention, the inability to invest in prevention, and provider instability'. They added: 'Without significant new funding in the spending review, the coming months will likely be the most difficult we've seen in recent years for all parts of the sector and – most important of all – for people who draw on care and support.' Recently published analysis by the Health Foundation think tank suggested a minimum of £3.4 billion will be required to meet the growing need for social care by 2028/29 to avoid a further deterioration in the sector. The think tank also called on the Government to 'signal its commitment' ahead of the upcoming spending review with a 'down payment on the investment needed for reform'.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social care leaders warn of tough times without ‘significant new funding'
The coming months for people needing social care are likely to be 'the most difficult we've seen in recent years' unless significant new funding is announced soon, almost 100 leaders in the sector have warned. Next month's spending review is a 'crucial opportunity' for the Government to show its commitment to the future of adult social care, the leaders said in a statement to the Chancellor. Rachel Reeves will deliver her review, setting out plans for spending and key public sector reforms, on June 11. The call comes just weeks after the formal launch of the Casey Commission, which the Government ordered with an aim of transforming social care. The first phase of the review, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to report next year, although recommendations from the initial probe will be implemented in phases over the course of 10 years. Social care leaders have already raised concerns over the potential timeline of 2036 for some reforms to be introduced. The second phase of the commission, setting out longer-term reforms, is due to report by 2028. A statement to Ms Reeves, published on Thursday, has been signed by dozens of sector leaders, including the Local Government Association, which represents councils providing care, as well as Mencap, Carers UK and the Homecare Association. In it, they said: 'Despite the best efforts of councils, care providers, the voluntary sector and the workforce, we all know that adult social care is not operating at its best. 'People who have cause to draw on support know that best of all. Report after report shows the consequences of under-investment over many years – on people, families, communities, businesses and other public services.' Referencing the Casey Commission, they said, 'resolving the long-term requires stability in the short-term and strong foundations from which to take forward meaningful reform'. They said while previous governments have sought savings and efficiencies to help plug immediate gaps, 'the scope for those is now extremely limited and the clear reality is that current funding levels are insufficient to tackle the challenges facing the sector, such as inflation, demography, workforce recruitment and retention, the inability to invest in prevention, and provider instability'. They added: 'Without significant new funding in the spending review, the coming months will likely be the most difficult we've seen in recent years for all parts of the sector and – most important of all – for people who draw on care and support.' Recently published analysis by the Health Foundation think tank suggested a minimum of £3.4 billion will be required to meet the growing need for social care by 2028/29 to avoid a further deterioration in the sector. The think tank also called on the Government to 'signal its commitment' ahead of the upcoming spending review with a 'down payment on the investment needed for reform'.
