Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Child Abuse Inquiry Expands Investigations to Birmingham and Wales
A national inquiry is investigating how groups of men abused and exploited children in England and Wales.
It has chosen Birmingham for a detailed local investigation.
It will also investigate what happened in Wales.
Investigators will study whether organisations recognised warning signs and shared information properly.
They will look at why children were not protected when opportunities may have existed.
The inquiry will consider cultural, ethnic and religious factors if evidence shows they mattered.
Victims and survivors will be invited to share what happened to them.
The inquiry hopes to explain failures and recommend ways to protect children in the future.
Birmingham has been selected for a new local investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation.
A separate Wales investigation will examine abuse, institutional responses and devolved safeguarding arrangements.
Investigators will assess how organisations identified abuse, shared information and protected children.
The inquiry will consider cultural, ethnic and religious factors where evidence shows they affected abuse or institutional responses.
Victims and survivors can contribute through written, recorded or one-to-one submissions from October.
- Who
- The Statutory Independent Inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, alongside victims, survivors and relevant organisations.
- What
- It is launching investigations into child sexual exploitation and safeguarding failures in Birmingham and Wales.
- When
- The announcements were made on Wednesday (30); the inquiry began work on March 31, 2026, and is expected to conclude by March 2029.
- Where
- Birmingham and Wales, within a wider investigation covering England and Wales.
- Why
- To establish what happened, identify failures and responsibility, understand why children were not protected, and recommend changes.
- Birmingham focus
- The initial investigation will focus on Birmingham but may expand to connected or surrounding areas if evidence supports it.
- Wales scope
- The separate investigation will examine abuse, institutional responses and how devolved safeguarding worked.
- Investigative powers
- The statutory inquiry can compel witnesses and documents and may hold public hearings.
- Topics examined
- Investigators will assess information-sharing, organisational decisions, inter-agency cooperation and treatment of victims.
- Existing investigations
- The wider programme also includes investigations in Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London.
- Timeline
- The inquiry formally began on March 31, 2026, and is expected to finish by March 2029.
- Survivor submissions
- From October, people can submit written accounts, voice or video recordings, or participate in one-to-one conversations with trained facilitators and specialist emotional support.