“The girls at the heart of this scandal have been failed by every professional in their lives. They, and the institutions that were intended to protect them, ignored their voices and sidelined their experiences. They must be held accountable for turning a blind eye to a sustained campaign of violence against young girls by predatory men.
“This is a source of national shame – I’ve been clear nothing can be off the table in pursuing justice for the victims. These were not adults making choices but abused children who needed empathy and help. Instead, they were ostracised.
“This inquiry must be a wake-up call for how we respond to vulnerable children, especially violence against girls. We cannot be more afraid of causing offence than we are of speaking out to protect children from exploitation and corruption.
“Victims have been forced to repeat their stories again and again – now the government at every level must listen, repaying their bravery with swift and urgent change. This must start with what has already been uncovered in previous investigations, identifying who is responsible for failing those girls and why necessary changes – better data sharing, professionals working together with far greater curiosity, and strengthened laws to protect children from dangers online – have still not been made.
“It is children living in care who are so often failed. They deserve highly skilled professionals who act in their best interests and who are held accountable for their outcomes. I will continue holding every professional working with, and for, children to account through my work, and using my statutory data powers to improve the woeful records captured in far too many cases of child abuse – including to investigate the ethnicity of victims and perpetrators.”
