U. K. Speeding Up Review of Sexual Abuse by Grooming Gangs

In response to rising concerns, the British government has decided to launch a rapid review into the extent of child sexual abuse by gangs. This move comes after Elon Musk, a tech billionaire, brought attention to the issue through his social media platform. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the three-month audit in Parliament, stating it will look into the current state and nature of gang-based exploitation across the country. The review will also consider the ethnicity of the perpetrators. In addition, the government has pledged support and funding for up to five local inquiries focusing on these so-called grooming gangs. These groups have been known to sexually exploit girls as young as 11 in the U. K. , mostly in the 2000s and early 2010s. The scandal, which affected several towns and cities, saw primarily white girls being targeted by these groups of men, many of whom were of British Pakistani heritage. This isn't the first time the issue has been addressed. Both local and national inquiries have previously investigated these crimes, which were widely reported in the British media during the 2010s.