The Metropolitan Police is reviewing 4,000 grooming gang cases in London that were previously closed without action, following a Daily Express investigation. Police chiefs have been examining files dating back to 2010 amid fears that many rapists remain free.
Over 12,000 alleged incidents were reported to the Met during the period under review. The cases involve a range of offender backgrounds, including intrafamilial abuse, online exploitation, and in-person offending. A more detailed review found that police or the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no further action in more than 4,000 cases.
Political Fallout for Sadiq Khan
The development is deeply embarrassing for London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who previously claimed there were “no reported cases” of grooming gangs in the capital. At a London Assembly committee session, Khan stated: “My understanding from speaking to the police… is… there are no reported cases and also no indication of the grooming gangs that she is concerned about in London.”
Tory politician Susan Hall called the revelations “utterly disgraceful.” She said: “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.”
Cases Referred to National Crime Agency
The Met focused on cases where two or more people were linked to an attack. These cases have now been passed to the National Crime Agency (NCA), which is expected to announce in the coming weeks how many must be reopened to bring perpetrators to justice. Similar reviews are ongoing across the country, with progress already made in areas such as South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
While many abusers identified elsewhere are predominantly Pakistani Muslim men, the issue in London is considered more complex, according to sources.
Mayor's Office Responds
A spokesman for Sir Sadiq strongly rejected any suggestion of a cover-up, saying the mayor “welcomed” the reinvestigation and had “been clear we must leave no stone unturned.” The spokesman stated: “Any individuals or grooming gangs exploiting children for sex are utterly abhorrent and the Mayor wants justice for every single victim of these horrific crimes. These children have not only suffered terrible abuse at the hands of the perpetrators but have been woefully let down by the authorities meant to protect them from harm.”
The spokesman added that the mayor had “led efforts to strengthen the protection of children from exploitation and harm in all its forms, including grooming gangs” and had made “vital investment in specialist services.”
Met Police Statement
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth of the Met said: “We are fully committed to engaging with the National Inquiry and the Operation Beaconport review into past cases led by the NCA and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. 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.”
London's Role in National Grooming Gangs Inquiry
London will be one of the first areas investigated in the grooming gangs inquiry. Investigators will explore “the wider network of grooming gangs across London’s satellite towns and cities” and focus on the capital’s role “in the national network of grooming gangs.” They acknowledged the need for an “early investigation” because London “has the highest rate of referrals for child sexual exploitation” in the country and extensive transport links.
Despite Khan’s past denials, a victim from the notorious Oxford grooming gang, known as Girl One, says her experiences in London mirror the systematic way gangs operated in towns like Rotherham and Rochdale. She said: “We were taken to London. I don't think it's possible for us to say that in the country's largest city, there wouldn't be a problem with grooming. If it can happen in a posh, wealthy city like Oxford, it's definitely happening in London. And probably has been since the 90s.”
An Express/MyLondon investigation uncovered six potential grooming gang victim cases in Met Police reports read by Sadiq Khan. Case studies in watchdog reports describe children being plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotels by groups, and having their lives threatened. Sir Sadiq and Scotland Yard had consistently claimed to have “no reports” of Rochdale or Rotherham-style rape gangs in the capital.
