Child Sexual Exploitation: Grooming Gangs

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale Excerpts

Tuesday 13th March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Young of Cookham]

There is only one word I can say to the right reverend Prelate: amen.

[Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab)]

My Lords, the experience of these young girls is not to be used to encourage religious intolerance, but it is still extremely serious. Yet again this week there have been calls for a proper investigation into what happened in Telford from the local MP, a Conservative, and from Sarah Champion, who has of course championed the victims in other parts of northern England. Why is an investigation not to be launched into Telford? This seems an extreme case of these extreme violent acts against young girls.

[Lord Young of Cookham]

I have read the reports of what happened in Telford—disgraceful cases that took place, I think, between 2007 and 2009. The case called Operation Chalice concluded in 2012 with a number of convictions. Since then I understand that both the police and children’s services have improved the way they operate. However, the option is open in this case for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, chaired by Alexis Jay, to look at what happened in Telford and at the institutional responses to the child sexual exploitation that took place in that borough.