The Metropolitan Police is reviewing some 9,000 grooming gang cases in a huge new investigation despite Sir Sadiq Khan previously denying any operated in London.
Sir Sadiq stated there were “no reports” or “indications” of grooming gangs operating in the capital, with young girls being subjected to the type of abuse seen in towns like Rotherham and Rochdale.
However, the Met Police have confirmed that 9,000 cases are being reassessed.
Following an investigation from the Express and MyLondon, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley wrote in a letter to the Mayor that he is “responding to questions about child sexual exploitation”, adding that “any sexual offending against children is abhorrent, but group-based offending, including that characterised as ‘grooming gangs’, is particularly insidious. And devastating in its profound impact on the children affected”.
Mr Rowley said he knows that “historically across the UK, the cases of these child victims have not always been recognised and thoroughly investigated.
“Too often, victims have been disbelieved and even judged at times. The Met is committed to safeguarding all victims of these terrible offences and wherever possible bringing those responsible to justice”.
The cases under review span all the way back to 2010 and are “going to [cost] many millions of pounds” given the number of cases, lasting several years.
Speaking to the London Assembly, Sir Mark said a “very significant number” of grooming gang investigations were being reviewed.
Sir Sadiq Khan previously denied that grooming gangs operated in London
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PAThe shocking cases included reports of young girls who were drugged and raped by groups of men, while having their lives threatened.
Mr Khan has publicly denied the existence of grooming gangs within London, having previously said there were “no reports” and “no indication” of organised rape gangs.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the London Mayor of “facilitating a cover-up”.
“It is shameful that the Mayor of London is claiming to have no indication that grooming gangs are operating in London despite personally responding to reports containing evidence of victims abused by grooming gangs in the city,” he told the Express.
A spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: “The Mayor has always been clear that the safety of Londoners is his top priority and nowhere is this truer than in safeguarding children.
“Sadiq is committed to doing all he can to protect children in London from organised criminal and sexual exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice.
“This includes his £15.6million Violence and Exploitation Support Service, which provides specialist support to young Londoners who are vulnerable, caught up in or being exploited by criminal gangs in the capital as well as supporting the Met to deliver a new child-first approach to safeguarding and enforcement action to tackle county lines.
“We remain vigilant to emerging and changing threats and will continue to do everything we can to protect children in the capital from abuse, violence and exploitation in all its forms.”
Sir Mark Rowley confirmed 9,000 cases are being reviewed
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PAA Met Police spokesperson said in a statement: “Any sexual offending against children is abhorrent, but group-based offending, often characterised as ‘grooming gangs’, is particularly insidious and devastating in its profound impact on the children affected.
“The Met takes all allegations or concerns about child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation incredibly seriously and always investigates, following the evidence without fear or favour.
“Since 2022, there have been significant improvements to how the Met identifies and investigates group-based offending, including training for 11,000 frontline officers and the expansion of our child exploitation teams. In the last year, we have solved three times more cases of child sexual exploitation, representing 134 more suspects charged.
“As part of the national reinvestigation into group-based child sexual exploitation recommended by Baroness Casey, we are currently undertaking a review of approximately 9,000 cases covering a 15-year period. In line with the IICSA definition, these include many cases of such as intra-familial, peer-on-peer and in institutional settings, along with those which do not fit the common understanding of a ‘grooming gang’.
“Our commitment to safeguarding all victims of such terrible offences and bringing those responsible to justice is absolute.”