• Source:JND
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The UK government has launched a major nationwide operation to track down and prosecute members of grooming gangs suspected of sexually exploiting children, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a long-overdue pursuit of justice. This move follows an independent report by Baroness Louise Casey, which shed light on widespread child sexual exploitation and the systemic failures that allowed it to continue unchecked.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) will spearhead the operation, working with police forces across the country to revisit previously closed cases and identify perpetrators who were not prosecuted. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised the importance of ensuring justice for victims who were ignored or disbelieved in the past.

“The vulnerable young girls who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of groups of adult men have now grown into brave women who are rightly demanding justice,” said Cooper. “More than 800 grooming gang cases have already been identified by police after I asked them to look again at cases which had closed too early.”

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Full Statutory Inquiry Announced

UK PM Keir Starmer, who had previously opposed a national inquiry, has now committed to a full statutory investigation into grooming gangs across England and Wales. The move marks a significant policy shift amid mounting political and public pressure.

“I have read every single word of Baroness Casey’s report and I will accept her recommendation for a national inquiry,” the Prime Minister said on Saturday.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) welcomed the announcement but warned against delays. “Survivors have already waited more than two years for the important recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to be implemented,” said NSPCC’s Sir Peter Wanless. While the national inquiry is crucial, the charity stressed that urgent government action is needed immediately to prevent further harm to children.

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Political And Legal Repercussions Loom

Senior Conservative figures have claimed that “hundreds of people” could face jail not only for their direct involvement in abuse but also for covering it up. The scandal has reignited debate over institutional accountability and the need for systemic reform within policing and social services.

The upcoming report by Baroness Casey is also expected to draw links between illegal immigration and grooming gang activity, a highly sensitive issue that could have broad political implications.