More than 4,000 grooming gang cases in London may need to be reinvestigated, Scotland Yard has admitted. The Metropolitan Police reviewed an enormous 12,000 alleged incidents reported over a 15-year period and found that a third of them may need to be reopened.
Operation Beaconport Review
The National Crime Agency (NCA)-led Operation Beaconport is examining cases between January 2010 and March 2025. These involve two or more suspects accused of sexual abuse, more than one victim, and where no further action was taken. The agency is only considering cases where the suspects are alive and that have not already been reviewed.
In November, 1,273 such investigations from 23 police forces had already been referred to the NCA team, with 236 prioritised because they involved rape allegations. At that stage, reviewers believed that potential lines of inquiry in some cases had been missed due to human error.
Police Statement
Met deputy assistant commissioner Kevin Southworth said: “We have identified those previously closed cases that meet the criteria to be considered as part of Operation Beaconport. If it is determined that any require further investigation, we will of course take that work forward to deliver justice for the victim-survivors involved. We would urge anyone who has – or is still – experiencing abuse of any kind to come forward. You will be listened to and supported.”
Political Reaction
London's Mayor Sadiq Khan was asked about the situation at a recent Greater London Authority meeting. He said: “My understanding from speaking to the police, and she will appreciate, I have done on a regular basis, is – and I choose my words carefully for the reasons she will understand – there are no reported cases and also no indication of the grooming gangs that she is concerned about in London.”
The “she” referred to was Susan Hall, the GLA leader, who raged over the response. Hall said: “The mayor’s response was utterly disgraceful. It has been like getting blood out of a stone. The resistance I have encountered has been totally unacceptable and when you look at the number of cases being reviewed you have to stop and think that is 4,000 young girls raped and sexually abused and you have to think how dreadful that is.”
