Christian group backs calls for national inquiry into grooming gangs

Christian Concern has joined calls for a national inquiry into grooming gangs formed mainly of Pakistani Muslim men who targeted young white girls.

Labour has been accused of cowardice after MPs voted against a national inquiry during a debate in Parliament on Wednesday. 

Christian Concern’s Head of Public Policy, Tim Dieppe, said there ought to be a national inquiry that’s “fully independent” of the federal government and which has the ability to prosecute those that “turned a blind eye” to the issue, including members of the police, social services and Crown Prosecution Service – which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer headed from 2008 to 2013. 

Mr Dieppe accused politicians of “sacrificing young girls to political correctness” as he called for tougher sentencing and the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of grooming gang offences.

He said he was encouraged that the scandal and the Islamic connection were being more openly discussed after former Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk claimed he was warned to not link it to the Muslim community since it could harm Labour’s electoral possibilities. However, Mr Dieppe questioned why nobody has yet taken responsibility. 

“We have sacrificed young girls on the altar of political correctness for too long. It is time for it to stop. It is time for motion, not words. It is time for many who aided the cover-up to face justice,” he said.