Grooming Gangs Inquiry: Chair, Panellists and Draft terms of Reference Announced
The government has announced that former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield will chair the Grooming Gangs Inquiry.
This is a welcome development after months of delay since the Inquiry was announced in June. However, important questions remain about the Inquiry’s direction and approach. In this article we highlight the key new developments in the Inquiry, and what to expect next.
Appointment of the Chair and Panellists
Baroness Longfield, who served as the Children’s Commissioner for England from 2015-2021, will resign the Labour whip in the House of Lords to take up the role. She will be supported by two panellists:
- Zoë Billingham, formerly a lead inspector with HM Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services
- Eleanor Kelly, former Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets and Southwark borough councils.
The Chair may also appoint Assessors or advisors to assist the work of the Inquiry.
A Troubled Start
The Inquiry has already experienced significant disruption. Previous candidates for Chair withdrew, and four survivors resigned from the advisory panel amid concerns over the direction and leadership of the Inquiry. Upon her appointment, Baroness Longfield said the Inquiry "owes it to the victims, survivors and the wider public to identify the truth, address past failings and ensure that children and young people today are protected in a way that others were not".
It has been reported that Baroness Longfield did not meet the survivor panel prior to her appointment but plans to speak with members in the coming days. She also published an open letter to all victims and survivors, committing to “ensure that this inquiry does not repeat the mistakes of the past, but that it will be independent, transparent, and focused on truth and accountability”.
Responses to the appointment have been mixed. Many victims had lobbied for a Judge to lead the Inquiry, though others have expressed cautious optimism in the choice given her previous career focusing on children’s rights.
Draft Terms of Reference: Key Points
The government has also published the draft Terms of Reference, offering the clearest indication yet of the Inquiry’s intended scope. The terms of reference are crucial as they will define the direction and often the boundaries of the investigation.
Scope and Structure
The Inquiry will cover England and Wales and operate through a series of local investigations, overseen by a national panel responsible for making recommendations. It will work closely with the national police operation examining group-based child sexual exploitation. Allegations relating to events in overseas territories or crown dependencies will not fall within scope.
Victim-Centred Approach
The Inquiry has committed to keeping victims and survivors at the forefront of its approach, with trauma-informed engagement and appropriate support provided throughout. Specifically, the draft terms of reference acknowledge the need for inclusive and representative engagement that reflects the diverse range of experiences and characteristics among survivors.
In a welcome move, whilst “child” is defined as anyone under 18, the Inquiry will consider exploitation of those over the age of 18 if their abuse began before they turned 18.
Focus on “Grooming Gangs”
The focus of the Inquiry will be on ‘Group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse’ (‘group-based CSEA’), a subset of child sexual abuse involving two or more connected perpetrators who are involved in or facilitate the sexual exploitation of children. The Inquiry acknowledges that group-based CSEA can take many different forms.
Core Objectives
The draft terms of reference propose that the Inquiry is tasked with:
- Examining the responses to reports of group-based CSEA, and the impact on victims, survivors, and professionals of the responses.
- Identifying failures and missed opportunities for intervention across institutions and systems.
- Investigating whether ethnicity, religion and culture influenced institutional responses at both local and national level.
- Holding accountable the individuals and institutions responsible for those failures.
- Driving meaningful change in safeguarding systems at local and national levels.
- Ensuring victims and survivors are placed at the centre of reform.
Timeline and Budget
A fixed deadline of three years has been set for the Inquiry’s completion, along with a budget of £65million.
Next Steps
As is often the case, a consultation on the draft terms of reference will now take place, details of which are expected to be published in January. The current aim is that the finalised terms of reference will be agreed and published by March 2026.
The issues that form the subject of the consultation are complex, and the way in which the Inquiry investigates them will be critical in ensuring it earns the confidence of survivors and the wider public. To build trust and deliver accountability, it is crucial that the Inquiry meaningfully engages with victims and other key stakeholders throughout the consultation process and the Inquiry itself.
While the consultation takes place, Inquiry appointments will also be made, including a secretary, lead solicitor and lead counsel to the Inquiry. Once the leadership team is assembled, the granular planning of the Inquiry will commence.
To learn more about the grooming gang scandal and what is involved in a Public Inquiry, you can read our previous article.
How Saunders Law Can Help
Saunders Law’s Inquiries team has extensive experience representing core participants in public inquiries, including:
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry
- The Infected Blood Inquiry
- The Covid-19 Inquiry
- The Undercover Policing Inquiry
If you have been affected by group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse and/or are interested in participating in the upcoming Inquiry, please call us on 020 7632 4300 or fill in our online enquiry form.