Local Senedd Member Paul Davies has welcomed the “long overdue” announcement of a UK-wide public inquiry into the prevalence of grooming gangs — and urged the Welsh Government to cooperate fully.
The call came after Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS raised the matter directly with the First Minister in the Senedd, pressing her to release relevant correspondence and agree to meet with a Welsh survivor of abuse.
Mr Millar — who was the first party leader in Wales to call for such an inquiry — challenged the First Minister over her government’s earlier refusal to support a Welsh-specific investigation. He warned that if Labour Ministers had acted in February, a dedicated inquiry for Wales would already be underway.
Mr Millar’s questions followed conversations with “Emily,” a Welsh survivor who was groomed as a teenager, trafficked across the UK, and raped more than a thousand times by gangs of men.
Mr Millar also urged the First Minister to ensure that devolved bodies — including social services, local authorities, the NHS, and the Children’s Commissioner — fully cooperate with the inquiry.
Following the announcement of a UK-wide inquiry, Mr Davies said:
“Now that an inquiry into grooming gangs has been confirmed, the Welsh Government must cooperate fully by ensuring that all relevant correspondence with police, councils, and social services is published.”
“Brave victims and survivors like Emily must be heard and I hope that the First Minister will at least meet with her to listen to her experience.
“We must now make sure this inquiry delivers justice for every survivor. There is no room for delay.”
