Two abuse survivors resign from grooming gang panel
Summary
Two survivors of abuse have stepped down from a national inquiry panel on grooming gangs in England and Wales. They left because of concerns about the selection of the panel's leaders and how survivors were treated. The government reaffirmed its commitment to a thorough investigation.Key Facts
- Two survivors, Fiona Goddard and Ellie-Ann Reynolds, left a panel investigating grooming gangs.
- Fiona Goddard was abused while living in a Bradford children's home and cited concerns about the panel's potential leaders, who include a former police chief and a social worker.
- The government confirmed Ellie-Ann Reynolds' resignation but denied her claims about avoiding reporting on racial or religious links to grooming gangs.
- The Home Office stated it requires police to collect ethnicity data of those involved in group-based child exploitation.
- There are concerns that expanding the inquiry's scope might dilute its focus on grooming gangs.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had announced a national inquiry to cover England and Wales.
- Shadow home secretary Chris Philp suggested a senior judge should lead the inquiry for impartiality.
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