Local abuse inquiry could shape government thinking

An independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford could shape the way the government thinks about tackling abuse elsewhere.

A row broke out after safeguarding minster Jess Phillips rejected a request for the government to commission a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham in October.

She argued that locally led inquiries, like Telford's, were more effective at leading to change.

The investigation in Telford found that obvious evidence of child sex crimes in Telford was ignored for generations, leading to more than 1,000 girls being abused.

Although the council, among others, was strongly criticised during the inquiry, its response to the findings was praised last year by inquiry chair Tom Crowther KC and the victims and survivors who helped lead changes.

Telford and Wrekin Council Leader Lee Carter has said the authority will share its experience and expertise with other parts of the country if required.

The idea that Telford's independent inquiry could be used as an example for other areas followed comments made by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Phillips's decision was first reported by GB News at the start of the year, and then picked up by Musk on his social media platform X.

He criticised Phillips, labelling her a "rape genocide apologist" and saying she should be jailed.

This prompted calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Speaking to Victoria Derbyshire, Phillips said the decision was based on her experience with the Telford inquiry.

"I saw actual progress, I saw council officers change the way that they deal with things," she said.

"I saw victims brought in to that council as independent advisors to get the recommendations done.

"It is the only model I've seen work, and I've been in this field for 15 years."

A group of victims of gender-based violence criticised Musk in a letter of support for Phillips, who said she had "devoted her life to fighting for women and girls".

Signatories included Holly Archer, Joanne Phillips and Scarlett Jones from Telford, Nour Norris, the sister and aunt of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, who were murdered in Solihull in 2018, and Emma Ambler, from Birmingham, whose sister Kelly Fitzgibbons and her two nieces, Ava and Lexi Needham, were murdered in March 2020.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "One victim from Telford says she wants a national inquiry, because it will hold people accountable in a way that previous inquiries have not.

"It is very possible to have actions, take on more, and still have a national inquiry.

"So why won't he listen to victims and launch a national inquiry which would have the power to summon witnesses and make them give evidence under oath?"

In response, Sir Keir Starmer said there had already been one national public inquiry, lasting seven years, and asked why Badenoch's party had not previously implemented its recommendations while in government, despite it concluding in 2022.

The Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation was set up after the Sunday Mirror revealed gangs had been abusing girls in the town since the 1980s.

It was led by Mr Crowther, who said the abuse had thrived unchecked for decades.

His initial report, released in 2022, included evidence from victims and made 47 recommendations for improvements to be implemented by agencies involved.

In July 2024, Mr Crowther published a report into the progress made by those local agencies.

It concluded that of the 47 recommendations made, 38 had been implemented in full, with a further four in progress. A further five recommendations were out of local control and depended on national or legislative changes.

Victims Holly Archer, Scarlett Jones and Joanne Phillips were lived experience consultees for the review and in July said they were "immensely proud of what Telford & Wrekin Council have achieved", adding that they hoped other local authorities would "take on board the changes they have made".

Mr Crowther himself described the 2022 review as "an admirable model" from which others could learn.

On 6 January, he said he was "very pleased" to have been asked to work with the government and councils on child sexual exploitation to ensure the successful approach of Telford's inquiry would be replicated.

"Survivor voices must be heard and be integral to change," he said on X.

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