Birmingham Finally Wants the Grooming Gang Inquiry

The Only Problem Is It Starts After the Evidence.

Birmingham's Political Leaders Have Asked for Their Own City to Be Investigated. The Inquiry's Clock Starts on 1 January 1996. Birmingham's Evidence Was Destroyed in 1991.

Former children’s commissioner vows to ‘follow evidence’ in grooming gangs probe

Baroness Anne Longfield will lead the inquiry over three years with a budget of £65 million, the Home Secretary announced on Tuesday.

The IndependentAnahita Hossein-Pour

Two weeks ago a letter went to Baroness Anne Longfield, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. You have not seen it. Hardly anyone has. Dated 29 June. Three names at the bottom. Sir Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield. Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley. Councillor Robert Alden, Leader of the Birmingham Conservative Group.

They want Birmingham included in the areas selected for detailed investigation. The first tranche publishes as I share this article (13th July 2026), along with the criteria used to pick them.

Here is the letter.