The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been accused of “taking the mickey” out of victims, after previously saying that there is “no indication of grooming gangs” operating in the capital.
Sir Sadiq told the London Assembly in June that although the city has “issues in relation to child sexual exploitation” and “child sexual abuse”, the cases were different from those in other parts of the country.
During a session of the assembly on Thursday, Conservative member Susan Hall accused the mayor of dismissing concerns about grooming gangs in London and called on him to apologise to victims.
Ms Hall said: “In January, I asked if we had grooming gangs in London. You dismissed my question by pretending you didn’t know what I meant, ‘What does she mean, Chair? What is she talking about’?
“I have to tell you the rape victims knew exactly what I was talking about, and so did most other people. So would you like to apologise to all the victims of the rape gangs that saw you dismiss this?”
Sir Sadiq responded by clarifying “what is meant by grooming gangs”, according to the national inquiry announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in June, and outlined the support provided to victims.
Ms Hall reiterated her call for an apology, adding: “Everybody knows what I was talking about except you it would appear, and since you are the police and crime commissioner, it’s very embarrassing for you.”
She said the mayor had told the assembly in June there were no reported cases, and no indication of, grooming gangs operating in London.
Sir Sadiq said: “I’ve led efforts to strengthen the protection of children and those exploited by abuse and exploitation.”
He said he had asked His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary to investigate the Metropolitan Police, which went on to embed its recommendations, and said he has funded record amounts to tackle violence against women and girls.
Ms Hall said there was “clearly” an issue with grooming gangs in London that the mayor pretended not to know about.
She said: “You pretended you didn’t know what it was. The rape victims have phoned me, they are devastated that they have been ignored, many of them, by the police for years, but to have the mayor of London really take the mickey out of them by saying ‘I don’t know what you mean’, ‘What is she talking about?’.
“You knew damn well what I was talking about.”
Sir Sadiq pointed to his appointment of the first independent commissioner in London as a reflection of how much he cares about victims.
He said: “It’s because of my experience as a member of Parliament and as a lawyer that I’ve invested so much in supporting victims. It’s the victims and survivors, where my priority has been.”
Last month the Metropolitan Police said they were reviewing 9,000 cases of child exploitation in London.
It is expected that some of these will be referred to Operation Beaconport, which is looking at cases involving two or more suspects, more than one victim, contact offences, where the suspects are still alive, and which have not already been independently reviewed.
Operation Beaconport is reviewing cases between January 1 2010 and March 31 2025, with thousands expected to come under scrutiny.
Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley told the Assembly on Thursday his force will balance its work investigating today’s cases with historical ones which fall within the scope of the national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Sir Mark said he expects reinvestigations of historical cases, which may amount to two to three thousand, will take several years and at least 60 to 80 specialist officers.
He said: “We are determined that, with others, the Met will safeguard victims wherever possible and bring those responsible to justice.”
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