Experts warn that Labour’s new plan to combat grooming gangs may lead to unintended consequences
London: A former children’s minister, Tim Loughton, has raised concerns about Labour’s new plan to tackle grooming gangs. He believes it might backfire.
In a recent piece for The Telegraph, Loughton pointed out that the proposed law for mandatory reporting of child abuse could overwhelm police with minor or false claims.
This proposal was introduced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper as a response to calls for a national inquiry into grooming scandals. The government aims to show that they are taking action.
Under the new rules, anyone working with children, like teachers and healthcare workers, could face prosecution if they don’t report suspected abuse.
These recommendations came from a national inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay, but Loughton argues that they might not effectively address the issue of grooming gangs.
He noted that in places like Australia, mandatory reporting led to a drop in serious cases being investigated, as professionals became overwhelmed with low-level reports.
In fact, research from the USA suggests that mandatory reporting can push offenders further underground, making it harder to catch them.
Loughton believes that the inquiry into child sexual abuse has not adequately addressed the specific issue of British Pakistani grooming gangs, which he finds disappointing.
He argues for a focused inquiry to understand why these gangs continue to exploit vulnerable teenagers and what can be done to stop them.
Recent police data shows that individuals of Pakistani descent are significantly more likely to be involved in grooming offenses compared to the general population.
Loughton suggests that a new inquiry should quickly assess which police forces are effectively tackling these crimes and whether more enforcement is needed.
He emphasizes that this inquiry should be efficient and not cost another £186 million, aiming to report back within a year.
In his view, the current approach has been slow and ineffective, and a more targeted investigation is necessary to address the ongoing issue of grooming gangs in the UK.
Tim Loughton, who has been involved in child protection efforts for years, believes that the focus should be on practical solutions rather than just implementing recommendations that may not be relevant.
