UK Grooming Gangs Inquiry to Open Hearings in December; Former PM Starmer Granted Core Participant Status
LONDON — The UK national inquiry into grooming gangs confirmed on October 22 that former prime minister Keir Starmer has been granted "core participant" status, meaning he may have to give evidence. Hearings are set to begin in December.
The first areas covered by the inquiry include London, Oldham, Bradford and Keighley. Chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, the inquiry will run for three years with a budget of £65 million and statutory powers to compel witnesses and documents.
Grooming gang cases involve the sexual exploitation of minors in multiple towns and cities, and the handling of the cases by local authorities and police at the time has been questioned for years. The national inquiry aims to establish the facts, assign accountability and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 伦敦中央刑事法院（老贝利） / Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), London。图片：© David Hillas / CC BY-SA 2.0，Wikimedia Commons
