For months, the British PM has faced criticism for refusing to launch a probe into the abuse of young girls across the country
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ordered a nationwide inquiry into the authorities’ handling of the grooming gangs sex abuse scandal, marking a U-turn after his government had dismissed calls for action just months ago.
The gangs, primarily involving men of Pakistani origin, have been active in the UK for decades, engaging in the systematic rape and torture of vulnerable girls.
At the start of the year, the government rejected calls for a national inquiry, insisting the matter had already been dealt with during a seven-year investigation.
However, speaking to reporters on Sunday on the eve of the G7 summit in Canada, Starmer backtracked, stating: “I’ve never said we should not look again at any issue.”
The UK’s top investigative body, the National Crime Agency (NCA), has been assigned to lead a nationwide effort to reopen historic group-based child sexual abuse cases and track down offenders who evaded earlier police investigations. The operation aims to jail perpetrators and deliver justice to victims whose cases were previously overlooked, officials said.
The scandal returned to the spotlight in January, after billionaire Elon Musk accused Starmer of failing to protect children. Musk said Starmer was “complicit” in the failure of authorities to safeguard victims and prosecute offenders during his tenure as director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013.
The British authorities have reopened over 800 cases since January and plan to coordinate efforts across local forces, specialist units, and national teams.
The move comes along with the formal launch of a statutory public inquiry, empowered to compel witnesses and direct local investigations, following a rapid review that found a new probe was warranted.
The inquiry will examine institutional failures – including by councils, police, and elected officials – in protecting vulnerable girls, with particular attention to ignored or mishandled complaints.
Authorized under the 2005 Inquiries Act, the inquiry can trigger detailed local case reviews and seek accountability in instances where misconduct or cover-ups are alleged.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the “U-turn,” cautioning that the inquiry must not be used to “whitewash” and urging justice for the victims. Former MP Rupert Lowe credited Elon Musk for action, saying there would have been “no inquiry, no justice” without him. Musk responded with a heart emoji.
