Mayor and Met 'deny' grooming gangs in London, Farage says

Nigel Farage accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police of failing to acknowledge the existence of grooming gangs in London, suggesting the capital may have a significant scandal yet to be uncovered. Following a national review, Scotland Yard is currently reviewing 9,000 cases of child sexual exploitation, which have proven to be more widespread and organized than previously thought. Khan's spokesperson expressed the mayor's commitment to justice for every victim and emphasized the Met's efforts in increasing arrests and reassessing historical cases. Farage pointed out that identifying such groups in London is more complicated than in smaller towns and cities. The Metropolitan Police has trained 11,000 frontline officers since 2022 to improve their response to group-based offences, resulting in a threefold increase in solved cases.

Commissioner Rowley highlighted the varied heritages of gangs involved in sexual exploitation in London, contrasting the focus on specific ethnic groups in other regions. This situation has raised concerns at City Hall, where Khan has faced repeated questioning regarding the handling of grooming gangs. The Met's renewed commitment to safeguarding victims and investigating all allegations underscores the seriousness of child sexual exploitation.