Renewed investigations into grooming gangs in London have intensified scrutiny on Mayor Sadiq Khan, prompting calls for transparency and a comprehensive inquiry amid mounting public and political pressure.
The grooming gang scandal in London has come under renewed scrutiny, with investigations revealing disturbing evidence of young girls being sexually assaulted in hotels by groups of men. Despite mounting reports and public outcry, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has faced intense criticism for his apparent denial and reluctance to address the issue directly.
The Daily Express investigations editor Zak Garner-Purkis made a forceful appeal on GB News, urging Mayor Khan to respond to the mounting evidence and clarify his position. Garner-Purkis highlighted how he had pored over multiple reports describing horrific abuse cases and found it incomprehensible that the Mayor could publicly claim there was "no indication" of grooming gangs in the capital. He noted the Metropolitan Police had recently admitted, following the joint Express and MyLondon investigation, that they are conducting a "very significant" number of grooming gang investigations—a stark reversal from earlier official positions. Despite this, Mayor Khan has yet to comment on the police’s U-turn, drawing further criticism for his silence when public reassurance and transparency are most needed.
GB News reporting further emphasises that although the existence of grooming gangs operating in London is documented in a range of reports dating back as far as 2016, Mayor Khan has consistently denied any such presence. This has sparked accusations of a cover-up, with former Detective Constable Maggie Oliver, an experienced investigator into such cases, describing the Mayor’s refusal to acknowledge the problem as incredulous and "stinking" of concealment. Oliver called for full transparency and accountability in dealing with the exploitation of vulnerable young girls, underlining the urgent need for political leadership in tackling this crisis.
Political ramifications of the scandal have spread beyond the Mayor's office. Conservative members of the London Assembly have called for a City Hall-led inquiry into grooming gangs, citing the seriousness of the problem and the need to allocate significant resources to investigate the scale of abuse across London’s boroughs. However, this proposal has met resistance, with Labour, Green, and Liberal Democrat members voting against initiating an independent inquiry—a move that critics argue stifles efforts for a thorough and impartial examination. The Mayor’s office, while deflecting some blame onto previous government inaction and historic inquiry failures, has shown reluctance to pursue a new investigation, further fueling public frustration.
The failure to address these concerns adequately has drawn sharp rebukes from various quarters. Political commentator Carole Malone labelled Sadiq Khan the "Worst EVER London Mayor" for his handling of the issue, suggesting that his denials and lack of engagement may be putting young girls at greater risk. The growing chorus of voices demanding accountability reflects widespread anxiety over how such serious allegations have been managed at the city’s highest level.
In summary, as the Metropolitan Police confirm an increasing number of grooming gang investigations and public pressure mounts, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s stance remains a contentious and unresolved issue. Calls for clarity, leadership, and a comprehensive inquiry continue to grow, highlighting a troubling gap between the reality faced by victims and the responses from the city’s political representatives.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, including a 2025 investigation by The Daily Express and MyLondon revealing evidence of grooming gangs operating in London. However, similar reports have emerged since 2016, indicating that the issue has been under scrutiny for several years. The inclusion of updated data may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/politics/grooming-gangs-london-sadiq-khan-london?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, the narrative references a 2025 report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which documents details of potential victims from 2016 to 2025. ([newenglishreview.org](https://www.newenglishreview.org/sadiq-khan-grooming-gang-cover-up-exposed-as-new-evidence-revealed/?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that while the content is recent, the underlying issues have been ongoing for nearly a decade. The narrative also includes direct quotes from individuals such as Maggie Oliver and Susan Hall, which appear to be original and not recycled from previous reports. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-sadiq-khan-blasted-maggie-oliver?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from individuals such as Maggie Oliver and Susan Hall, which appear to be original and not recycled from previous reports. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-scandal-cover-up-sadiq-khan-blasted-maggie-oliver?utm_source=openai)) No identical quotes were found in earlier material, indicating that the content is likely original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from GB News, a news outlet that has been criticized for sensationalism and lack of journalistic rigor. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. However, the narrative also references reports from The Daily Express and MyLondon, which are more established sources. The inclusion of these sources may lend some credibility to the narrative, but the overall reliability is still questionable due to the primary source's reputation.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about grooming gangs operating in London are plausible, given the documented cases in other parts of the UK, such as the Huddersfield sex abuse ring and the Derby child sex abuse ring. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huddersfield_sex_abuse_ring?utm_source=openai)) The narrative also references a 2025 report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which documents details of potential victims from 2016 to 2025. ([newenglishreview.org](https://www.newenglishreview.org/sadiq-khan-grooming-gang-cover-up-exposed-as-new-evidence-revealed/?utm_source=openai)) However, the lack of direct evidence and the reliance on reports from sources with questionable reliability reduce the overall plausibility score.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents claims about grooming gangs operating in London, referencing recent investigations and reports. However, the primary source, GB News, has a reputation for sensationalism and lack of journalistic rigor, raising concerns about the reliability of the information. While the claims are plausible, the lack of direct evidence and the reliance on sources with questionable reliability lead to a 'FAIL' verdict with medium confidence.
