Some grooming gang victims are struggling to meet with the national inquiry team as it prepares to finalise its terms of reference, GB News can disclose.
Baroness Longfield, who was confirmed as the inquiry's chair last year, has been meeting with survivors and representatives this year as they work to confirm terms of reference by the end of the month.
But GB News understands meetings with survivors in Wales have been frustrated, as the inquiry team cannot identify an organisation that can liaise with and support victims in the country.
One survivor in Wales, who was trafficked by abusers into towns such as Telford and Hereford, told GB News she is worried about being “left out” by the process.
Baroness Longfield might be visiting Wales before the consultation process closes and the inquiry team has offered online meetings to victims.
Elsewhere, some victims have told the People's Channel they are struggling to access meetings organised by the inquiry team to ensure their perspectives are heard.
A letter sent to Baroness Longfield, signed by many survivors, has asked for a dedicated and accessible website for victims so they can get in touch and register their interest in engaging with the process.
The letter, signed by Bradford survivor Fiona Goddard and law firm Switalskis, among many other survivors around the UK, stressed they want the inquiry to succeed but that “the best way to achieve that is by ensuring that survivors are central to the process and that the inquiry is accessible, transparent, and inclusive".
Baroness Longfield was confirmed as head of the inquiry last year
|PA
In a statement, the inquiry team said: “The Inquiry has been actively engaging with organisations and individuals across England and Wales throughout the consultation period.
"We will continue to engage with victims and survivors before the terms of reference are finalised.
"Anyone wishing to get in touch with the Inquiry can contact us at contactus@grooming-gangs.independent-inquiry.uk.”
The concerns come as Tory MP Katie Lam urged the Government to ensure the probe assesses links between ethnicity and religion and the causes of offending.
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Victims have expressed their frustration to the People's Channel
| GB NEWSThe draft terms of reference, which was published last year, did not commit to assessing this critical aspect of the scandal.
Britain's News Channel published the first-ever network analysis of the abuse gangs last year, demonstrating the ethnicity and familial links between offenders throughout the country.
Some 24,502 people responded to the inquiry’s consultation period, with Ms Lam’s letter making 10 demands of the probe.