October 28, 2025
Two men have been sentenced for a series of sexual offences committed against three teenage girls in Leeds, following an investigation by Leeds District Safeguarding Unit.
Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Inquiry
In June 2025, the Government announced a new national public inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation (CSE). The inquiry will examine how and why children were groomed, abused and failed by those in positions of power. It will also explore what must change to ensure this never happens again.
At Switalskis, we represent a number of survivors and families involved in this inquiry, and have long been at the forefront of holding authorities to account for systemic failures in protecting children from sexual exploitation.
Our specialist Grooming gangs and abuse claims team, led by Amy Clowrey , has represented hundreds of survivors up and down the country, including Rotherham, Hull, Oxford, Manchester, Bradford, Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
To speak to one of our specialist abuse solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458, or contact us through the website.
This national inquiry has been established to investigate how children across the country were subjected to organised sexual abuse by groups of men, often over many years. It will examine the actions of police, local authorities, schools, and other agencies, and will consider whether institutional attitudes and practices contributed to these failures.
The inquiry follows growing public concern that survivors of CSE have not been listened to, believed, or supported. Recommendations from previous investigations have not gone far enough.
A statutory public inquiry such as this has the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and to require disclosure of key documents. It aims to uncover the truth, identify lessons for the future, and make recommendations for lasting change.
The inquiry is currently in its preparatory phase. Once terms of reference are finalised and a Chair is appointed, survivors and their representatives will have the opportunity to contribute evidence and shape the scope of the investigation.
We will continue to share updates as the inquiry progresses, including key hearings and opportunities for survivor engagement.
If you believe you were affected by group-based child sexual exploitation or would like to speak in confidence about your experience, please contact our specialist team.
You can speak directly and in confidence with Amy Clowrey , solicitor and director in our Abuse Claims team.
We understand that taking part in a public inquiry can be daunting, emotional and complex. Survivors may be asked to provide witness statements, give oral evidence, or be designated as core participants, which allows them to access inquiry evidence and make legal submissions through their lawyers. Our role is to ensure that your voice is heard and protected throughout the process.
Switalskis has acted in some of the country’s most significant grooming gang cases. Each of these areas has its own story, and we are proud to have supported survivors in speaking out and achieving justice. While we represent survivors nationwide, our work has been especially focused in:
We act on behalf of survivors, families and victims’ representatives across England and Wales who have been affected by child sexual exploitation. Our work includes:
Our approach is compassionate, experienced and survivor-led. We understand how deeply personal this process is, and we will support you every step of the way, both legally and emotionally.
We have represented survivors in complex group actions across the country, including Rotherham, West Yorkshire, and Lambeth. A significant proportion of claims have been resolved sensitively through negotiation, ensuring survivors can pursue justice without the need to attend court.
Every client is offered access to specialist support as part of their claim process and is assigned a dedicated solicitor who specialises in abuse law. Our team brings over 100 years of combined experience, ensuring survivors receive expert guidance and compassionate support throughout their journey.
We represent survivors and families in major national inquiries into child sexual abuse and exploitation and are regularly invited to provide evidence and consultation on safeguarding and survivor justice issues, demonstrating our authority and leadership in complex cases.
Our work has helped influence changes in the law, improving access to justice for survivors, including reforms following the IICSA findings on time limits and vicarious liability. To date, we have supported over 100 survivors in pursuing justice and compensation, contributing to systemic change and improved protections for future generations.
At Switalskis, we are privileged to represent survivors of grooming gang abuse from across the UK. Our clients’ experiences, like those of Erin, Scarlett, Jade, Chantelle, and Steph featured on Channel 4's 'Groomed: A national scandal', highlight the devastating, lifelong impact of organised sexual exploitation. Many were ignored by authorities despite clear evidence, criminalised as children, and forced into compliance by seasoned offenders.
The accounts also show that grooming is not limited to so-called ‘problem children’ - it affects children from all backgrounds, including loving homes. Listening to and supporting survivors is vital, and the law must protect vulnerable children effectively.
Our blog explores these stories, the failures of authorities, and the ongoing work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), which continues to shape the national response.
Our child abuse compensation team have recently represented Fiona, a survivor of child sexual exploitation and grooming in West Yorkshire. Her case forms part of a broader pattern of abuse that targeted vulnerable children in Keighley during the 1990s. Read more from our child abuse compensation litigation team .
We represented a client, referred to as YZ, who was involved in child sexual exploitation and grooming in Rotherham. Her sister was murdered in an honour killing, making this particular case incredibly sensitive and harrowing, and our client very vulnerable. Read more from our child abuse compensation litigation team .
At Switalskis we represented the estate of our client, referred to as AB, who was involved in child sexual exploitation and grooming in Rotherham from approximately 11 years of age. Read more from our child abuse compensation litigation team .
To speak to one of our specialist child sexual exploitation solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458, or contact us through the website.
Taking legal action against grooming gangs can be a complex and emotionally taxing journey. At Switalskis, we aim to simplify this process for you, by providing expert guidance at every turn and answering questions in clear terms. Here's a more detailed look at how we can assist you through the claims process, step by step:
The first step of your claim is a confidential, no-obligation consultation with Switalskis’ expert grooming gang solicitors. During this meeting, we'll listen to your story, answer any questions you may have, and outline your legal options. This initial conversation is about making sure you feel comfortable and informed, and there’s no pressure to proceed further unless you choose to.
We'll assess the strength and specifics of your case. This involves reviewing any evidence you may already have, such as digital records or correspondence, and advising on what additional information might be beneficial to support your claim. We'll also discuss the likelihood of achieving your desired outcomes, be it justice, compensation, or both.
In grooming gang cases, evidence is often the linchpin for success. We'll guide you through the process of gathering the necessary documents, digital records and witness statements. This may also involve working with technology experts to retrieve online data or consulting with psychologists for expert testimony.
Fewer than 1% of our cases need clients to go to court but, if needed, we'll prepare you and let you know what to expect. We'll present your case and aim for the best possible outcome. We'll also prepare you for the emotional and aspects of facing your abusers in court, offering support and guidance throughout.
A successful claim could result in various forms of justice, including financial compensation and the dismantling of the grooming gang involved. We'll guide you through what the outcome means and discuss any further steps you may wish to take, such as appeals or additional legal actions.
Our relationship doesn't end when the legal process does. We'll continue to offer support and guidance if you decide to take further action, and we can connect you with additional resources for ongoing emotional support if you need it.
A core participant is someone or an organisation with a significant role or interest in the matters being investigated. For example, someone directly affected by the events, or a person who may face criticism in the final report.
Being a core participant allows you to:
Switalskis can advise and assist you in applying for core participant status where appropriate.
Most inquiry hearings and evidence are made public to ensure transparency. However, the Chair has discretion to protect the identities of witnesses and survivors where necessary, for example, by granting anonymity or holding parts of the hearing in private.
We will always act to protect your privacy and can request special measures to ensure you feel safe and supported.
In many inquiries, legal representation for survivors and can be funded by the inquiry itself. This means you will not usually have to pay legal fees.
Our team can help you understand what funding is available and guide you through the application process.
Public inquiries are large and complex processes that often take several years to complete. They may release interim reports during their work, followed by a final report which sets out their findings and recommendations.
Throughout the process, our team will keep you informed of key developments and help you engage with the inquiry at every stage.
Once the inquiry concludes, a final report is published summarising the evidence, findings, and recommendations. These recommendations are not legally binding, but they can lead to significant policy changes and influence future law reform.
For survivors, participation in an inquiry can also be an important step in achieving acknowledgment, accountability, and healing.
A public inquiry itself does not award compensation. However, its findings can help support a separate civil compensation claim.
If you are a survivor of abuse, we can advise you on whether you may have grounds to bring a claim for the harm you suffered and how best to do so.
We represent survivors and families taking part in public inquiries, including the Group-Based CSE Inquiry and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
Our team provides:
We’ll ensure you are treated with dignity and respect at every stage.
People experience abuse in lots of different ways, and everyone heals differently. If you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, or want support in your own healing journey, it can help to understand how childhood abuse might affect you in the present.
If you’ve been harmed by child sexual abuse it can take a long time to terms with what happened and feel ready to talk to someone about it. It’s hard, but there are support services available and we recommend you contact them as one of your first steps.
The Data Protection Act 2018 has given all UK care leavers the right to request a copy of any personal data that an organisation holds about them, including councils/local authorities.
At Switalskis, our team regularly provides support to people making subject access requests for social services records.
At Switalskis, we want to break down those barriers and tackle misconceptions about PTSD symptoms and causes, to make sure everyone can get the help they need. This is important for us because of our work supporting survivors of child abuse. Many people develop PTSD in response to physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse.
Two men have been sentenced for a series of sexual offences committed against three teenage girls in Leeds, following an investigation by Leeds District Safeguarding Unit.
At Switalskis, we represent a number of women involved in the Government’s inquiry into Group-Based Child Sexual Abuse. This includes survivors who remain part of the consultative process and others who have chosen to resign due to the distressing circumstances surrounding the inquiry’s progression.
At Switalskis, we represent a number of survivors involved in the Government’s national inquiry into grooming gangs, including Fiona Goddard, who has now resigned from the victims and survivors liaison panel alongside Ellie Reynolds and a third survivor, “Elizabeth.”
A man who groomed and abused a vulnerable teenager in care has had his prison sentence increased from 18 to 23 years by the Court of Appeal. The survivor, who was just 15 when she was coerced into a so-called marriage with Raja Zulqurnean, lived in a Bradford children’s home at the time.
To speak to one of our specialist abuse solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458, or contact us through the website.
When you're facing the complexities of a legal case, especially one touching on such sensitive subjects as grooming gangs and abuse, you need more than just a solicitor. You need a team that embodies values you can trust. Here's why Switalskis should be your first choice:
Legal matters are often complicated, filled with jargon and paperwork that can feel overwhelming. At Switalskis, we pride ourselves on making the complex clear. We break down each step of the legal process and the relevant terms into straightforward language, making sure you're fully informed and never left in the dark. Our aim is to simplify what can be a daunting experience, making your journey towards justice as smooth and stress-free as possible.
From your first consultation to the final resolution of your case, you'll find that the team at Switalskis is deeply committed to your emotional wellbeing. We understand the courage it takes to come forward, and we're here to offer a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, and a hand to hold. Our approach is rooted in empathy, making sure you feel supported at every step.
Our team is highly skilled in this specific area of law, bringing years of experience and a track record of successful outcomes to underpin your claim. But our expertise goes beyond just legal knowledge; we're also experts in handling sensitive issues with the care and confidentiality they demand. When you choose Switalskis, you're choosing a team that combines legal expertise with a deep understanding of the emotional nuances involved.
At the heart of our practice is a commitment to championing your rights. Whether you're seeking justice, compensation, or both, we’ll work to advocate for you tirelessly. We're your supporters in this journey, and we’re committed to fighting for the best possible outcome for you. Our focus is always on what's in your best interest, making sure your voice is heard and your rights are upheld.
We're committed to providing expert, compassionate legal support for survivors of grooming gangs. If you're ready to take the first step, we're here for a confidential, no-obligation chat.
Reach out to us by calling 0800 138 0458 or by contacting us through the website.