LOCAL CONSERVATIVES CALL FOR BIRMINGHAM TO BE INCLUDED IN NATIONAL GROOMING GANGS INQUIRY
Birmingham Conservatives have formally called for Birmingham to be included in the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, warning that victims in the city must not be overlooked and that any investigation seeking the full truth must examine Birmingham’s record.
In a letter sent to Baroness Anne Longfield CBE, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington) urged the Inquiry to make Birmingham one of the local authorities subject to detailed investigation.
Cllr Alden said:
“Victims and survivors in Birmingham deserve to have their voices heard. Any inquiry that aims to uncover the truth about grooming gangs and the institutional failures that allowed these horrific crimes to occur cannot afford to overlook the UK’s second city.
“Birmingham sadly has a history of group-based child sexual exploitation, stretching back decades. We owe it to victims and all residents to ensure that every failure is examined, to ensure it never happens again, and those responsible for the horrific crimes or for failing to protect vulnerable children are held accountable.”
The Conservatives argue that Birmingham’s inclusion is essential to provide a complete national picture of grooming gang activity. As one of the country’s largest and most diverse cities, and a major transport hub, Birmingham could provide important evidence about how grooming networks operate across different parts of the UK.
The request follows on from the successful Conservative-led motion passed by Birmingham City Council in June 2025 supporting full cooperation with any inquiry into grooming gangs and requiring the preservation of relevant records. The motion, proposed by the Conservative Group, received cross-party support and demonstrated the city’s willingness to engage openly and transparently with any investigation.
Cllr Alden added:
“This is about justice, accountability and protecting children. Victims have waited too long for answers. Birmingham must play its full part in ensuring the Inquiry leaves no stone unturned.
“We stand ready to support the Inquiry in every way possible and hope Birmingham will be added to the list of local authority investigations as soon as possible.”
The Conservative Group believes that examining Birmingham’s experience would strengthen the Inquiry’s findings, help identify systemic failures across agencies, and contribute to national reforms designed to prevent future child sexual exploitation.
