Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to provide evidence at the national grooming gangs inquiry, which began following his initiation of the review in 2025 amid calls from survivors and political figures who argued past investigations were insufficient. The inquiry, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, will initially focus on victims’ testimonies before investigating institutional responses to grooming gang cases, amid allegations of systemic cover-ups.
Starmer, who served as the United Kingdom’s Director of Public Prosecutions prior to becoming Prime Minister, will appear as a core participant. The inquiry comes after an investigation revealed that during his tenure, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) employed “paedophile Asbos”—warning notices believed to have allowed some suspected offenders to avoid prosecution. Documents indicate the CPS coordinated with police chiefs in drafting and issuing these warnings, a practice that elicited strong criticism from survivors.
Starmer defended his record, asserting that he implemented significant reforms to ensure victims were heard. Alongside Starmer, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Communities Secretary Angela Rayner, and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper are also designated as core participants expected to give evidence.
The inquiry’s launch coincides with alarming new statistics on sexual violence and domestic abuse in England and Wales. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 74,484 rapes were reported to police in the 12 months leading up to June 2026, representing a 2% increase from the previous year. Sexual offences overall rose by 4% to 144,510 recorded incidents.
Complementing police data, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates that approximately 3.2 million women experienced some form of sexual assault, abuse, or stalking in the year to March 2026, with stalking and harassment affecting an estimated 1.9 million and 4.9 million people respectively. Domestic abuse reports have also increased, with 827,684 offences recorded, including 640,118 classified as violent crimes. Partner abuse rates rose from 6.1% to 7.9% among those aged 16 and over.
The Home Office acknowledged the scale of the problem as “completely shocking” and stated its commitment to addressing violence against women and girls. However, the rising figures cast doubt on the government’s ability to meet its pledge to reduce such violence by half.
Political responses to the data have been mixed. Shadow Equalities Minister Joy Morrissey called for stronger law enforcement and a justice system prioritizing victims, while criticizing what she described as government complacency toward prison overcrowding and public safety. She also highlighted concerns regarding the Home Office’s efforts to communicate legal boundaries to illegal immigrants.
Victim support groups have voiced alarm over the increase in abuse cases, calling for more robust measures to protect survivors and hold perpetrators accountable. Survivor Rachel Williams emphasized the severe personal impacts of domestic violence, urging systemic change to ensure offenders face meaningful consequences and that victims receive justice.
The grooming gangs inquiry and the broader spotlight on violence against women underscore ongoing challenges in addressing sexual violence, institutional accountability, and justice reforms in the UK.