What has led us to this point? For many years campaigners, survivors, families, and whistleblowers have tried to shine a light on a horrific crime against children. Over the years there has been some attempts to do the deep dive into what was happening and how children could be better safeguarding. We are now in a place where a national inquiry is underway below is a list of reviews and inquires that have come before.
Timeline of Key Events
A timeline of major reports, inquiries and reviews concerning child sexual exploitation and safeguarding in the UK.
Jay Report
Independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, identifying serious failures by agencies responsible for protecting children.
Office of the Children's Commissioner
National inquiry into child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups, examining its scale, nature and the response of agencies.
Home Affairs Committee
Parliamentary inquiry into child sexual exploitation and localised grooming, making recommendations on safeguarding, policing, information sharing and victim support.
Ann Coffey MP – Real Voices
Independent report examining child sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester, with a particular emphasis on listening to children and young people and improving safeguarding.
Casey Inspection
Independent inspection of Rotherham Council following the Jay Report, examining governance, leadership and the council's response to child sexual exploitation.
IICSA
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse examined institutional responses to child sexual abuse, including child sexual exploitation by organised networks, before publishing its final report in 2022.
Ann Coffey MP – Real Voices: A Follow-up
Further examination of child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester, including progress since the 2014 report and continuing safeguarding concerns.
Greater Manchester Assurance Reviews
The Burnham-commissioned review was published in stages, examining Operation Augusta, Oldham Council and the investigation of non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
Telford Independent Inquiry
Independent inquiry examining the history and response to child sexual exploitation in Telford and making recommendations for safeguarding and support.
Casey National Audit
Baroness Louise Casey conducted a national audit examining the scale, nature and characteristics of group-based child sexual exploitation and the response of agencies.
Independent Inquiry Announced
The Government announced the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs and appointed Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair.
Baroness Louise Casey published the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, recommending a statutory inquiry.
The Government announced the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, appointing Baroness Anne Longfield CBE as Chair, with Zoë Billingham CBE and Eleanor Kelly CBE as panellists.
Draft Terms of Reference were published and letters were issued directly to victims and survivors.
The Inquiry consulted with victims and survivors, professionals, organisations and other stakeholders to inform the final Terms of Reference. This included trauma-informed engagement across England and Wales.
The final Terms of Reference were published, setting out the Inquiry's remit, including local investigations and a national review.
The Inquiry was formally established under the Inquiries Act 2005, giving it statutory powers to obtain evidence and testimony.
Chair Baroness Anne Longfield and the Inquiry Panel appeared before the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to explain the Inquiry's approach, scope and plans for engaging victims, survivors and communities.
The Inquiry published its Victims and Survivors Charter, setting out its commitments to listening to, involving and supporting victims and survivors.
The Inquiry announced its National Accountability Hearings, planned for the end of 2026/beginning of 2027, alongside its first local investigations in Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London.
The Inquiry published its National Accountability Hearings Outline of Scope. The hearings will examine how national organisations responded to group-based child sexual exploitation and whether recommendations from previous inquiries and reviews were implemented.
The Inquiry opened applications for Core Participant status for the National Accountability Hearings.
The Inquiry launched the first stage of its National Listening Project, allowing victims, survivors, family members, friends and survivor groups to share their experiences and views. Information submitted through this route is not a formal witness statement but can help identify issues, shape lines of inquiry and inform recommendations.
The Inquiry published a Protocol on Ciphering and Anonymity, explaining how it will protect the identities of victims and survivors who are entitled to anonymity or who request anonymity.
The Inquiry announced further investigations in Wales and Birmingham and confirmed the next phase of the National Listening Project. From October, survivors and others will be able to contribute through written submissions, voice recordings, video recordings and one-to-one conversations.