A crucial panel designed to give voice to victims of grooming gangs is to be dismantled by the government, despite promises that survivor perspectives would be central to the national inquiry. The decision, confirmed by the Home Office, will see the panel wound down in January, just one year after its creation.
The move has ignited fury among survivors, who feel betrayed and silenced. Elizabeth Harper, a survivor abused in Rotherham from the age of 14, described the plan as “disgusting,” arguing it demonstrates a fundamental lack of commitment to a victim-led investigation.
Another survivor, abused in Nottingham as a teenager, fears the panel’s removal will stifle the emergence of critical evidence. She powerfully stated that victims are the “only experts” on what they endured, and their voices are essential to uncovering the full truth.
The Home Office maintains that engagement with victims and survivors remains a priority, pointing to the establishment of a separate, long-term advisory panel. However, critics argue this does not replace the direct input and influence of the now-defunct group.
The announcement coincided with the naming of Baroness Anne Longfield as the new chair of the inquiry. While welcomed by some as a step forward, the appointment has also drawn criticism.
Harper questioned the impartiality of Baroness Longfield, citing her ties to the Labour party and its historical oversight of councils implicated in the scandal. She believes this connection creates a conflict of interest, perpetuating a pattern of decades-long neglect.
The inquiry, budgeted at £65 million and expected to last three years, will focus specifically on grooming gangs and examine the failures of local authorities, police, and social services. It will also investigate the role of ethnicity, religion, and cultural factors in both the exploitation and the response to it.
The unraveling of the survivor panel follows a period of turmoil, including the resignation of Harper and three other members over concerns about the inquiry’s direction. Two previous candidates for the chair position also withdrew.
Despite assurances from Shabana Mahmood that the inquiry will “shine a bright light” on this dark chapter, survivors remain skeptical. Harper insists she and others are “still being ignored,” and renewed calls are being made for a fully independent, judge-led inquiry.
The survivors fear that without a truly independent and victim-centered approach, the inquiry will fall short of delivering justice and protecting vulnerable children from future harm. They believe a judge-led inquiry is the only path to uncovering the full extent of the failures and holding those responsible accountable.
