Britain’s government has announced its support for local inquiries into cases of organized child sexual abuse, following controversy sparked by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government will authorize a “rapid audit” to assess the scale and nature of gang-based exploitation across the country. This move comes after Musk criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not backing a national inquiry into the matter.
The decision marks a shift in the government’s position, as previously indicated no further investigations were needed. The government will provide £10 million to support local inquiries, with half going towards the investigations themselves. Cooper said that local inquiries can provide more detail and relevant answers than a nationwide inquiry.
Musk had highlighted the problem, criticizing Starmer for not backing a national inquiry and alleging he failed to bring perpetrators to justice during his time as England’s chief prosecutor. The issue has been used by far-right activists to link child sexual abuse to immigration, sparking controversy.
The government’s decision follows seven years of an inquiry under the previous Conservative government, which made 20 recommendations in 2022, but many have yet to be implemented. Cooper said that much valuable time had already been lost since the final report was published, causing further trauma to victims and survivors.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/britain-musk-grooming-gangs-starmer-83a1e35ebb9347d7da7d9025c12ac796