PCC statement following inspection of police response to group-based child sexual exploitation

“As a country, we must face the uncomfortable truth that the system has failed thousands of predominantly young, vulnerable women and girls.

“For too long, the voices of survivors have been dismissed or silenced.

“I welcome the report’s acknowledgment of progress in policing group-based child exploitation, the reality is stark. Too many perpetrators have escaped justice, and too many victims are still waiting to be heard. Any failure to learn lessons swiftly or investigate these horrific crimes with full urgency inflicts yet more avoidable pain on survivors. That is indefensible.

“The Government’s current chaos surrounding the national grooming gangs inquiry is the clearest signal yet that political weakness and bureaucratic drift continue to stand in the way of justice.

“Victims deserve action, not excuses. The lack of decisive national leadership has allowed confusion, delay, and mistrust to take root. This inaction only increases survivors belief that a cover-up is taking place. We cannot allow a culture of evasion or denial to persist when it comes to protecting children. Victims must be at the heart of every decision.

“Here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, I have funded multiple services that provide critical support for victims of sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence. Their work offers hope where institutions have failed.

“For more information is available on the OPCC website here – Victim and Witness Support – Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner.”