Abuse solicitor, David Greenwood, has spoken to the media today, providing insight into a major announcement from the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs.

The Inquiry, established earlier this year, has announced it will firstly examine National responses to the grooming gangs scandal and secondly, moving on to local investigations.

The local areas to be investigated as part of its work to uncover the truth about child sexual exploitation and hold institutions to account, with more expected to follow in the future.

The first local investigations will focus on three local areas:

• Oldham
• London
• Bradford & Keighley

The announcement marks a significant milestone in the Inquiry’s work as it moves from consultation and planning into the next phase of investigations and accountability.

Speaking about the announcement, David highlighted the importance of ensuring victims and survivors remain at the centre of the process and that institutions are held accountable for their past failings.

David says: “The women I’ve been helping in London, Bradford and Oldham have been repeatedly refused inquiries into safeguarding failings. My hunch is it’s because councils, police and NHS know the scale and seriousness of the failings and wanted to avoid the deep embarrassment and shame it will generate. These investigations mean the public will now find out how awful the grooming and abuse has been and how badly our public bodies let down our girls and some boys.

Alongside these inquiries, I’ll be pushing for accountability and proper support for the women harmed.”

A focus on accountability

Alongside the local investigations, the Inquiry has announced plans to begin national accountability hearings before the end of the year.

These hearings will examine more than 800 recommendations made by previous inquiries and reviews into grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation over the past two decades. Many of those recommendations have not been fully implemented.

The hearings will consider the role of organisations including government departments, police bodies, local authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and the NHS, examining whether enough was done to protect vulnerable children and support victims and survivors.

The Inquiry has also confirmed that organisations called before the hearings will be revisited in two years’ time so that progress can be assessed.

Why local investigations matter

The first local investigations will focus on three key areas: Oldham, London and Bradford & Keighley, with further areas expected to be announced in the future.

For many victims and survivors, these investigations represent an opportunity to examine what happened, whether warning signs were missed, and how institutions responded where concerns were raised. As David Greenwood suggests, understanding the lessons from the past is essential if future generations of children are to be better protected.

Looking ahead

This announcement is a key step forward in the Inquiry’s work. The combination of local investigations, national accountability hearings and a clear commitment to victim and survivor engagement demonstrates a determination to examine not only what happened, but why opportunities to protect children were missed.

If you would like to be legally represented at no cost at the Inquiry, contact our team on 0808 258 8041 or email help@switalskis.com .

Every survivor of abuse deserves justice. Our specialist abuse lawyers have decades of experience in representing survivors of abuse and understand the emotional impact of these cases. If you have been impacted and would like to discuss your experience in confidence, our specialist abuse team can help. Call 0808 258 8041 or email help@switalskis.com .