Grooming gangs inquiry will 'leave no stone unturned' and investigate scale of abuse in London, Keir Starmer pledges

Scotland Yard recently said 9,000 cases of child sexual exploitation were being reviewed by officers following a national review into group-based child sexual exploitation which found it was more widespread, organised and underreported than previously acknowledged.

Pressed on whether Sir Sadiq had been "gas lighting" Britons over the scandal by reporters en route to the G20 in South Africa, the Sir Keir said: "I think the national inquiry can cover this and the approach we’ve taken is no stone unturned.

"Whether it’s in London or elsewhere I’ve always said where there’s evidence that could be investigated by the police, whether that’s looking at old cases or new cases, that should be the first priority.

"My strong view is in these cases that if there’s evidence to put people before criminal courts that is the first step that should be taken. More broadly the national inquiry will leave no stone unturned wherever it is in the country."

The mayor's spokesman said Sir Sadiq's regarded gangs that exploit children for sex as "utterly abhorrent" and he wanted justice for "every single victim".

He also promised to be "completely transparent" when it came to reviewing potential cases of child sexual exploitation. He also said grooming gangs in the capital were "far more complex" than those uncovered in other towns across England.

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