Grooming Gang Survivors Feel 'Betrayed and Distressed' After Victims Panel Axed
Survivors of the grooming gangs scandal have expressed feelings of betrayal and distress following the government's decision to disband a key victims liaison panel. The panel, which was established to ensure survivors' voices were heard in the inquiry into child sexual abuse, was shelved by the Home Office in January, sparking accusations that victims are being ignored.
Survivors Voice Anger Over Panel Disbandment
Multiple survivors have told Metro that the victims and survivors liaison panel was wound down after final meetings in January, leaving them feeling "disrespected" and "voiceless." Fiona Goddard, a campaigner who was abused in Bradford from the age of 14 in the late 2000s, described the move as deeply upsetting.
"They felt betrayed and disrespected all over again," said Goddard, who quit the panel in October. "Survivors were told they had a voice and then it was taken away from them. There needs to be survivor involvement in the inquiry, but it needs to be respected and listened to."
Another survivor, identified as "Jessica," who also left the liaison group in October, added that the decision to scrap the panel proves the government is "not thinking about victims and survivors at all." She criticised the panel as a temporary measure, stating it should have continued until the inquiry was complete.
Political Backlash and Inquiry Controversy
The disbandment has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the Labour government of excluding survivors, warning that justice will not be served without their input.
"Their voices were ignored for too long – mainly because the perpetrators were of mainly Pakistani origin," Philp told Metro. "Now the Labour government is ignoring them again. This is shameful, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood must urgently explain why she has allowed this to happen."
The controversy comes amid ongoing turmoil in the grooming gangs inquiry. The Home Office first promised the creation of a survivors panel in January last year, but after mounting pressure, Prime Minister announced a national statutory inquiry in June. However, the process was thrown into disarray when four survivors quit the liaison panel in October, and two leading candidates to chair the investigation pulled out.
Appointment of Baroness Longfield Sparks Further Concerns
In December, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood appointed Baroness Anne Longfield, a former Children's Commissioner, to chair the £65 million inquiry, which is expected to take three years. Survivors have raised concerns about her previous links to the Labour Party, despite her taking a leave of absence from the Lords to remain politically neutral.
Goddard expressed frustration, saying: "The panel were never consulted on Anne Longfield. She was the opposite of what the vast majority of survivors wanted. They wanted someone completely independent of a political party. That is not what they got."
Survivors have also criticised the inquiry's draft terms of reference, which limit the investigation to cases from 2000 onwards and exclude some local areas. Goddard described these commitments as "an insult" and "weak," fearing they will prevent the full truth from emerging.
Government Response and Future Plans
The Home Office has defended its actions, stating that the interim panel was always intended to be temporary and that Baroness Longfield will now engage directly with victims and survivors. A spokesperson said: "We have established the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, with full legal powers to compel evidence, to uncover the truth and provide answers that survivors of these horrific crimes deserve."
However, survivors report hearing no further details about a promised long-term Child Sexual Abuse Victim and Survivor Panel, with the Home Office not mentioning it in recent statements. Goddard fears any future panel could be "selective" and another "box-ticking exercise," undermining the inquiry's credibility.
As the consultation on the terms of reference continues until the end of March, survivors remain anxious that their voices will be sidelined in a process meant to deliver justice and transparency.
