The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has announced the next phase of its work, confirming local investigations in Wales and Birmingham. These investigations will examine what happened, why children were not identified and protected, how institutions responded and what must change to prevent the same failures from being repeated.

Are these the final local investigations to be announced?

There are now five announced local investigations: Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, London, Wales, and Birmingham. What is not yet clear is whether these will be the Inquiry’s final local investigations. We have asked the Inquiry to confirm whether any further locations will be announced.

For some survivors, the announcement has brought disappointment as well as hope. Those whose experiences are connected to areas not named may understandably feel that their communities, and the institutional failings they have described, are again being overlooked. A national listening exercise is important, but survivors also need clarity about how evidence from places without a local investigation will be examined and reflected in the Inquiry’s work.

We have therefore asked the Inquiry specifically how those areas will form part of the National Inquiry, how survivors’ evidence will be considered and how any patterns of local failure will be identified. Survivors should not be left wondering whether their experiences matter simply because their town or city does not appear on the list.

Wales must be part of the national conversation

It is particularly welcome that Wales has now been included, especially in its entirely, although it is not yet clear how this will work in practice. Child sexual exploitation is a national issue affecting communities across both England and Wales, yet Wales has previously been criticised for being left outside much of the national conversation. Its inclusion matters because survivors in Wales deserve the same scrutiny of institutional responses, the same opportunity to be heard and the same prospect of recommendations for change.

The Inquiry says that each local investigation will contribute to its wider national work and help shape its findings and recommendations. It has also announced the next phase of the National Listening Project, through which victims and survivors across England and Wales can share their experiences by written submission, voice or video recording, with one-to-one conversations expected to follow.

Survivors need clarity

We have said this before, but victims and survivors must genuinely remain at the heart of this process. That means more than inviting people to tell their stories. It means explaining how their evidence will be used, being transparent about why particular locations have been selected and ensuring that experiences from elsewhere do not disappear into the gaps between local and national work.

We welcome progress, including the decision to investigate Wales and Birmingham. But we will continue to press for answers on whether the five announced investigations are the final list and, if they are, how the Inquiry will make certain that survivors from every affected area are properly heard.

Switalskis represents over 50 survivor Core Participants at the National Inquiry, including survivors from Wales. We will ensure that all their voices are heard.

Find out how Switalskis can help you

Every survivor of abuse deserves justice. That means holding perpetrators fully accountable, and it also means ensuring survivors are supported to reclaim their voice, rebuild their sense of control, and pursue the compensation they are entitled to for the harm they have suffered.

At Switalskis, our specialist abuse lawyers have decades of experience in representing survivors of child sexual exploitation. We understand that such cases are very emotional for clients and often legally complex, therefore we are dedicated to providing a supportive and professional environment in which our clients can feel confident in our services. We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve.

If you have been impacted and would like to discuss your experience in confidence, our specialist abuse team can help. Call 0800 1380 458  or email help@switalskis.com.