Tom Crowther KC, who was appointed to collaborate with the Home Office to address child grooming gang inquiries, expressed uncertainty about his role during a recent Commons committee hearing. Despite the government’s announcement in January regarding his partnership with the Home Office, Crowther indicated that there had been little advancement nearly three months later. In response, the Home Office stated that they would provide an update on the progress made in combating child sexual abuse in Parliament the following week.
Crowther, known for leading the inquiry into child sex abuse in Telford, Shropshire, disclosed shocking findings in his 2022 report, revealing that more than 1,000 girls had been victimized in the town over a span of three decades due to failures by the police and local council. With tech mogul Elon Musk reigniting the issue earlier this year by advocating for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper enlisted Crowther’s assistance to spearhead efforts alongside local councils where formal inquiries were necessary.
During his testimony at the Commons Home Affairs Committee, Crowther recounted the circumstances surrounding his appointment, detailing how he sought clarity about his responsibilities from officials and ministers on multiple occasions. Despite concerns about the lack of communication, Crowther confirmed his involvement in leading the inquiry in Oldham, Greater Manchester, emphasizing the need for a victim-centric approach in locally-led inquiries. The government’s commitment to addressing child sexual abuse through a national framework and a £5m fund to strengthen responses at the local level was reiterated by a Home Office spokesperson, who also highlighted the progress made by Baroness Louise Casey in her nationwide review of grooming gang demographics and cultural influences
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