Grooming inquiry lawyer requested Dwelling Workplace ‘do you continue to need me?’

A barrister tasked with serving to to develop native inquiries into youngster grooming gangs has revealed he requested a authorities official “do you continue to need me?”, amid uncertainty over his function.

In January, the federal government introduced that Tom Crowther KC would work in partnership with the Dwelling Workplace on the difficulty.

However throughout a Commons committee listening to on Tuesday, he prompt there had been little progress practically three months on.

The Dwelling Workplace stated it might be setting out the progress made on tackling youngster sexual abuse in Parliament subsequent week.

Mr Crowther chaired the inquiry into youngster intercourse abuse in Telford, Shropshire.

His report in 2022 discovered greater than 1,000 ladies had been abused within the city over a interval of 30 years, amid “stunning” failures by the police and native council.

The difficulty was thrust into the highlight as soon as once more earlier this yr by tech billionaire Elon Musk, when he used his X social media platform to name for the UK authorities to arrange a nationwide inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Conservatives and a few Labour MPs joined requires an inquiry and on 6 January Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper introduced Mr Crowther had agreed to work with the federal government and native councils the place formal inquiries have been wanted.

Giving additional particulars on 16 January, Cooper stated Mr Crowther would work with the Dwelling Workplace to “develop a brand new efficient framework for victim-centred, locally-led inquiries”, beginning with Oldham council in Larger Manchester, and 4 different pilot areas – which haven’t but been named.

Talking to the Commons Dwelling Affairs Committee on Tuesday concerning the affect of the Telford report and the way it may be used as a template for wider youngster sexual exploitation inquiries, Mr Crowther stated the announcement of his function in January got here simply hours after he was supplied it over the cellphone by a minister.

He informed MPs of how he had requested officers and ministers for additional particulars on what he can be required to do on a number of events.

In a cellphone name on 14 February with a Dwelling Workplace official, Mr Crowther requested: “Do you continue to need me?”

In response, he stated he was informed the framework for locally-led inquiries can be drafted by ministers and advisers however his feedback can be “welcome”.

He stated the official assured him there can be a follow-up e-mail the next day however this by no means got here.

Mr Crowther stated he was now attributable to have a gathering with the Dwelling Workplace on Wednesday.

He stated he had taken it upon himself to fulfill the Oldham council chief and final month it was confirmed he would lead the inquiry there.

However Mr Crowther informed MPs he was not sure whether or not the areas of the opposite locally-led inquiries can be introduced by Easter.

A Dwelling Workplace spokeswoman stated: “The federal government is dedicated to doing all the pieces it could to sort out the horrific crime of kid sexual abuse.”

She stated the federal government can be setting out its progress, together with on the suggestions of the Impartial Inquiry into Baby Sexual Abuse, subsequent week.

She added: “We’re working with native areas, together with Telford, to draw-up a nationwide framework to help additional native inquiries and investigations backed by a £5m fund to assist strengthen native responses to youngster sexual exploitation.”

A separate nationwide evaluation by Baroness Louise Casey, analyzing the demographics of grooming gangs and their victims, in addition to the “cultural drivers” behind the difficulty, was attributable to be accomplished by April.

The Dwelling Workplace stated she had made “vital progress” and would current her findings to ministers “in the end”.