Image Source: Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
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Grooming Gangs Inquiry
Is this devolved to Wales?
Devolved
The necessary powers are not reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Shared Powers
Child safeguarding and social services are devolved, but policing and criminal justice are reserved to the UK Parliament.
Not Devolved
The powers over this are reserved to the UK Parliament in Schedule 7A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (Specific Section/Number/Clause).
In July 2025, the UK Government launched a public inquiry into grooming gangs/sex abuse rings. This inquiry will cover both England and Wales.
On 16th September 2026, the Senedd debated Wales’ involvement. MSs agreed to an amended motion supporting Wales being included in the UK-led inquiry and seeking justice and support for victims of grooming gangs (more details further down).
Grooming gangs, almost always made up exclusively of men, target vulnerable young women and girls. These young women are often coerced into being exploited sexually, sometimes trafficked to other parts of the country to be abused.
During the 2010s, several child sex abuse rings were uncovered in the north of England. Since then, sex abuse rings have been investigated elsewhere, including Wales. There have been long-standing calls, particularly from the Conservatives, for a Wales-specific inquiry.
The terms of reference of the (UK) Independent Inquiry include1:
- The nature, adequacy, and timeliness of statutory service responses (both immediate and long-term) to suspected or confirmed cases of grooming gangs.
- Missed opportunities for intervention, protection, and effective collaboration.
- The response to, and impact on, individuals who reported grooming gang crimes, including victims, survivors, and professionals.
- How different risk factors and vulnerabilities played into the abuse or the response to that abuse.
- Whether ethnicity, religion or culture played a role in the causes and response.
- The extent to which identified failures have led to changes in practice, policy, or legislation, and whether those changes have been effective.
It’s not known precisely how many Welsh victims of grooming gangs there are.
At least one of the (known) Welsh-based rings was convicted of over 40 offences2. Another suspected ring has been charged with over 30 offences3.
Charts (if needed)
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Costs & Economic Impact
Statutory Inquiry into Grooming Gangs (England and Wales)-
Budget allocated to the Inquiry by the UK Government.
Who has raised this at the Senedd?
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Beca Brown MS
Backbencher
Sarah Rees MS
Backbencher
Zaynub Akbar MS
Chair: Equality & Social Justice
Helen Jenner MS
Leader of the Opposition
Paul Marr MS
Backbencher
Art Wright MS
Backbencher
Llŷr Powell MS
Reform UK Whip
Thomas Montgomery MS
Backbencher
Cristiana Emsley MS
Shadow Communities Minister
Catherine Cullen MS
Backbencher
Darren Millar MS
Conservative Group Leader
Peter Fox MS
Backbencher
Huw Thomas MS
Backbencher
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
First Minister
Beca Brown MS
Backbencher
Sarah Rees MS
Backbencher
Zaynub Akbar MS
Chair: Equality & Social Justice
Helen Jenner MS
Leader of the Opposition
Paul Marr MS
Backbencher
Art Wright MS
Backbencher
Llŷr Powell MS
Reform UK Whip
Catherine Cullen MS
Backbencher
Thomas Montgomery MS
Backbencher
Cristiana Emsley MS
Shadow Communities Minister
Huw Thomas MS
Backbencher
Darren Millar MS
Conservative Group Leader
Peter Fox MS
Backbencher
What are the party positions on this?
- Supports the UK inquiry
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Plaid Cyrmu backbenchers support the UK inquiry, and stressed that the issue shouldn’t be used for political points scoring (or worse).
- Supports
- Opposed
- Wants a Wales-only inquiry
Reform UK believe there are enough lessons to be learned to justify a Wales-only inquiry, though they also believe the UK inquiry needs to properly explore religous and racial motivations of grooming gangs.
- Supports the UK inquiry
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Labour supports the UK inquiry and note that Wales is included. They called for additional support for victims of grooming gangs.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Wants a Wales-only inquiry
The Conservatives welcome the UK inquiry, but there is enough scope for a Wales-only inquiry as many of the services involved are devolved.
- Supports
- Opposed
- Neutral/No Opinion
Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically.
Who is responsible?
Delyth Jewell MS
Deputy Minister for Social Care
What have ministers said?
What's being done about this?
The overall position of the Welsh Government is that there doesn’t need to be a Wales-only inquiry. The Deputy Minister said that the “full picture” of grooming gangs needs to take in devolved and non-devolved (such as criminal justice) policy areas at the same time – and this is best done by the UK inquiry.
There is a commitment to consider any findings from the inquiry that relate to Wales – and this approach was backed by the Senedd. There’s a separate commitment to publish a new strategy on violence against women and children before in summer 2027.
No.
The UK inquiry is expected to report back (to the UK Home Office) no later than March 2029.
What have the Senedd's Committees said?
Nothing has been discussed yet.
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Relevant Votes
| Date | Motion Number | Subject | Tabled As | Binding Vote? | Votes For | Abstentions | Votes Against | Absent/No Vote | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/09/26 | NDM9293 | As amended | No | 47 | 29 | 8 | 10 | AGREED | |
| 16/09/26 | NDM9293 | Amendment – Launch a Wales-specific grooming inquiry | No | 37 | 0 | 47 | 10 | REJECTED | |
| 16/09/26 | NDM9293 | Amendment – Government commits to consider any findings | No | 47 | 0 | 37 | 10 | AGREED | |
| 16/09/26 | NDM9293 | Ensure Wales is included in UK grooming gang inquiry | No | 37 | 0 | 47 | 10 | REJECTED |
Further Reading
- Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. “Terms of Reference“
- Tom Sinclair, The Herald (August 2026). “More than 40 convictions in Welsh grooming gang case fuel calls for national inquiry“
- Sky News (16th July 2026). “Eight men accused of being part of grooming gang charged over rape and child sexual abuse”
Related Issues
