Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had, and with whom, about the investigation of whether any police officers, social workers and council officials failed to fulfil their statutory duty to protect victims of grooming gangs; and whether (1) there have been any, or (2) there are planned to be, prosecutions of any such officers and officials.

The extent to which statutory authorities have failed to protect children from sexual exploitation is being investigated by bodies that are rightly independent of Government.

The Government established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to consider the extent to which institutions in England and Wales have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse. As part of its work, the Inquiry is investigating institutional responses to child sexual exploitation by organised networks. While independent of Government we welcome the Inquiry’s work in this area and, as always, the Government will cooperate fully and will give careful consideration to its findings in due course.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigates the most serious and sensitive incidents and allegations involving the police. The IOPC is independent of Government and the police and is responsible for the investigations it carries out.

Government does not hold information on prosecutions specifically relating to different types of misconduct in a public office.