PM announces national inquiry into grooming gangs

The prime minister has announced there will be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs.

Sir Keir Starmer said he had accepted the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB (June 2025)

Chapter 7: Taxi Licensing and Child Protection Measures

Chapter 7 of the National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation highlights the role of taxi licensing in safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse. Taxis have historically been identified as a risk factor in child sexual exploitation cases, particularly in areas where grooming gangs operate. The chapter examines how local authorities regulate taxi licensing and the challenges they face in ensuring stricter safety measures.

Key Findings:

1. Taxis as a Risk Factor in Child Exploitation:

   • Grooming gangs have used taxis to transport victims, often to locations where abuse occurs.

   • Survivors of exploitation have reported instances where taxi drivers facilitated or ignored abuse.

2. Local Authority Licensing Practices:

   • Councils issue taxi licences based on statutory guidance set by the government.

   • Some areas with known exploitation risks go beyond minimum requirements, implementing stricter vetting and training for drivers.

   • In other regions, licensing remains inconsistent, creating vulnerabilities.

3. Regulatory Challenges and Loopholes:

   • A legal loophole allows taxi drivers to apply for a licence in one council but operate in another, reducing oversight.

   • Local authorities with stronger licensing standards are undermined when drivers circumvent their regulations.

4. Recommendations for Safer Licensing Practices:

   • The Department for Transport should close licensing loopholes, ensuring drivers operate under the regulations of the area they work in.

   • Mandatory criminal record checks and safeguarding training for all taxi drivers should be enforced nationwide.

   • Improved collaboration between councils and law enforcement is essential to prevent exploitation risks.

A senior government source said the inquiry would “co-ordinate a series of targeted local investigations”.

This will include new local investigations, which will take place even if local authorities don’t want one.

The local investigations will have the power to compel evidence to be given and witnesses to appear.