Grooming gangs inquiry MUST be led by a senior judge, Robert Jenrick warns

The shadow minister’s intervention comes as the People’s Channel revealed that two prospective chairs of the inquiry were set to meet with victims next week.

It is understood that the chairs might have a non-legal background.

It had been reported that legal figures approached for the role were hesitant to engage, citing concerns about delays to the processing of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and fears about the abuse gangs crisis being a “toxic” issue due to the ethnicity issue.

Robert Jenrick said: “The Government has dragged its feet for months in setting up the grooming gangs inquiry, and now we learn it may not even be chaired by a legal expert.

“This is one of the worst scandals in our country’s modern history. It must be led by a senior judge with deep experience of criminal cases, able to handle the complex evidence from hundreds of witnesses.”

Mr Jenrick has urged the Government to look beyond Britain if the Government is struggling to hire a senior legal figure for the role.

“If the Government is struggling to find a suitable judge in the UK, it could call upon one from a common law country like Australia or Canada, who can come with fresh eyes, unlike many in our own establishment who have chosen to ignore this ‘toxic’ issue for fear of being labelled racist.”

He added: “Anything less than a senior judge suggests that once again, the Government is just not serious about delivering truth for victims and survivors.”

The top Tory’s comments were echoed by independent MP Rupert Lowe, who said the Government should look to “the other side of the planet” if they had to.

“I fully agree with Robert and echo his call for a senior judge to be appointed, even if they have to recruit from the other side of the planet.

“Let’s get fresh eyes, with an unbiased look from someone who is entirely free from any domestic political pressures.”

Mr Lowe, who has crowdfunded to form his own inquiry to gather evidence about the crisis, added: “This would be a significant move that would demonstrate the Labour Party is serious about uncovering the truth, and finally delivering justice for the survivors. Let’s get on with it.”

Concerns about the chairing of the inquiry come after grooming gang survivors told GB News that they fear the inquiry could be expanded to cover “other elements” of child sexual exploitation, adding to concerns that the investigation could be diluted.

Separately, leading lawyer David Greenwood, who heads child abuse compensation at law firm Switalskis, told GB News that there had been months of unacceptable delay since the abuse scandal re-emerged this year.

He added that the inquiry was in a “legal mess” and will struggle to return before the next general election.

Richard Scorer, Head of Abuse Law and Public Inquiries at Slater & Gordon, warned that the inquiry's impact could be “blunted' by having the wrong chair.

“The chair of this inquiry needs to be a senior lawyer who has the skills and experience to ensure that failings by local authorities and police are forensically pursued and they are properly held accountable.

“Ideally, the chair would be an experienced judge, but at the very least it needs to be a senior lawyer with forensic skills and an understanding of how to use statutory powers to force the truth out of recalcitrant agencies who want to keep it hidden.”

Mr Scorer added: “I am very concerned that having a chair without these skills could seriously blunt the inquiry’s impact.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The abuse of children by grooming gangs is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable. We will do everything in our power to ensure these crimes never happen again.

“We are working urgently to appoint the best Chair to take forward this work, to get to the truth and deliver justice to the survivors.

“It would be wrong to provide a running commentary on that process while it is still underway.”

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