Education

London's grooming gang scandal prompts mayor to push for overhaul after years of denial

Saturday, 25 October 2025 4:04AM UTC

London's mayor responds to revelations of a massive review into historic child sexual exploitation cases, amid criticism over previous denials and systemic failures in safeguarding vulnerable children across the capital.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has responded publicly to a significant scandal involving grooming gangs in the capital, following a major review by the Metropolitan Police into thousands of historic cases. Initially, Khan had stated there were "no reports" or "indications" that London was affected by the type of child sexual exploitation seen in other areas such as Rochdale and Rotherham. However, in a stark development revealed on a Friday evening, the Metropolitan Police disclosed that they are currently reassessing approximately 9,000 cases spanning a 15-year period. This move comes after an investigation by The Daily Express and MyLondon, which exposed numerous potential grooming gang cases that had previously been overlooked.

A spokesperson for Khan emphasised his condemnation of any individual or group exploiting children for sex, labelling such acts as “utterly abhorrent.” The Mayor has asserted that perpetrators must face the full force of the law, while acknowledging that victims have been badly failed by authorities historically tasked with their protection. Khan’s office noted that he has been steadfast in urging the Metropolitan Police not to leave any stone unturned in securing justice for victims. This includes his personal request last year for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to evaluate the police's response to child protection and exploitation issues. According to the spokesperson, the Mayor has invested more than £233 million into tackling violence against women and girls, adopting reforms such as the Met’s new 'Child First' safeguarding approach which aims to enhance intervention and protection for vulnerable children.

The Metropolitan Police also issued a statement recognising the particularly heinous nature of group-based child sexual exploitation and the devastating impact on victims. Since 2022, they have claimed significant improvements, including training for over 11,000 frontline officers and an expansion of child exploitation teams. They report having solved three times as many child sexual exploitation cases in the last year, charging 134 more suspects. The ongoing national reinvestigation into group-based child sexual exploitation, a recommendation from Baroness Casey’s report, underpins the current review of these thousands of cases, which also include a broad range of abuse types beyond the commonly understood grooming gang paradigm.

However, this evolving situation has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the handling of grooming gangs over the years. A former Scotland Yard detective, Bernadette Murray, has accused the Metropolitan Police of providing misleading information to Mayor Khan, suggesting that the force lacked comprehensive knowledge about grooming networks due to poor data management and even deliberately deceived the Mayor’s office. Moreover, critics argue that Khan’s earlier denials may have been influenced by political sensitivities, with some commentators claiming he prioritised support from certain voter demographics over addressing the safety of vulnerable children.

Ethnic dimensions have also complicated the discourse around grooming gangs. UK government reviews and media reports reveal that authorities historically failed to properly record the ethnicity of suspects involved in organised child sexual abuse. Over two-thirds of such cases lacked ethnicity data, impeding pattern recognition and policing efforts. Several reports, including those by Reuters and the Associated Press, highlight that a disproportionate number of suspects in grooming gangs have been Asian men, particularly of Pakistani heritage. The government has accepted recommendations to launch a national inquiry and mandate the recording of suspects' ethnicity to improve future investigations.

Alongside these issues, Mayor Khan has initiated changes to the Metropolitan Police’s controversial 'gangs matrix' database, which was criticised for racial disproportionality and misuse. A review found that a significant majority of those on the database were young, Black, and many posed little or no actual harm. These findings prompted calls for a comprehensive overhaul to restore public trust and ensure adherence to data protection laws.

While efforts are now being made to address these deep-rooted failings, the scale of the grooming gang scandal in London, and the initial reluctance to acknowledge it, continues to fuel debate about accountability and the effectiveness of child protection strategies in one of the world’s largest cities. Moving forward, both the Mayor and the Metropolitan Police face intense scrutiny to demonstrate tangible progress in safeguarding children against exploitation and delivering justice for victims.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Express), ^[2] (GB News)
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Express)
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Express)
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Express), ^[4] (GB News), ^[7] (GB News)
Paragraph 5 – ^[3] (Reuters), ^[6] (AP News)
Paragraph 6 – ^[5] (Independent), ^[1] (Express)
Paragraph 7 – ^[1] (Express), ^[2] (GB News), ^[7] (GB News)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2125789/sadiq-khan-breaks-silence-groom-gangs - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-met-police-sadiq-khan-ignored-problem - GB News reports that the Metropolitan Police is reviewing approximately 9,000 grooming gang cases in London, despite Mayor Sadiq Khan previously denying their existence. The review spans cases dating back to 2010 and is expected to cost millions. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley emphasized the commitment to safeguarding victims and bringing perpetrators to justice. The investigation follows an Express and MyLondon report exposing potential grooming gang cases in London that were previously overlooked.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-failed-identify-disproportionate-number-asian-men-grooming-gangs-report-says-2025-06-16/ - A Reuters article discusses a UK government report revealing that authorities failed to properly address and record the involvement of a disproportionate number of Asian men, particularly of Pakistani heritage, in organized child sexual abuse cases over the past 15 years. The report found that ethnicity was not recorded in two-thirds of such cases, hindering efforts to identify crime patterns. The government has accepted all report recommendations, including launching a national inquiry and enhancing investigative efforts.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/former-scotland-yard-detective-warns-met-police - GB News reports that a former Scotland Yard detective, Bernadette Murray, has accused the Metropolitan Police of deceiving Mayor Sadiq Khan about the extent of grooming gangs operating in London. Murray claims that the force lacks basic knowledge about such criminal networks due to systematic data mismanagement and alleges that the Met routinely provides false information to the Mayor's office.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/london-violent-crime-gangs-sadiq-khan-met-police-matrix-database-racist-legal-black-review-a8695176.html - The Independent reports that Mayor Sadiq Khan ordered an overhaul of the Metropolitan Police's 'gangs matrix' database, which was found to be racially disproportionate. A review revealed that three-quarters of those on the matrix were under the age of 25, 80% were Black, and many had a zero-harm score. The review recommended a comprehensive overhaul to restore trust and ensure compliance with data protection legislation.
https://apnews.com/article/da6b9f3d9dea41530dfb017c9f3bde62 - An Associated Press article reports that a UK government review found that authorities have historically avoided addressing the ethnic backgrounds of suspects involved in child sexual abuse cases, particularly those related to organized grooming gangs. The review found that in two-thirds of such cases, ethnicity data was not recorded, hindering efforts to identify crime patterns. The government has announced mandatory recording of suspect ethnicity and nationality by police and plans to address uninvestigated cold cases.
https://www.gbnews.com/politics/grooming-gangs-london-sadiq-khan-london - GB News reports that Sadiq Khan has been accused of turning a blind eye to grooming gangs in London after an investigation revealed young girls had been raped in hotels by groups of men. The investigation, conducted by The Daily Express and MyLondon, exposed potential grooming gang cases in London that were previously overlooked. Critics argue that Khan's reluctance to address the issue stems from political motivations, prioritizing support within specific voting demographics over the safety of vulnerable children.

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: 8

Notes: The narrative appears to be fresh, with the earliest known publication date of similar content being October 24, 2025. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-met-police-sadiq-khan-ignored-problem?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release from the Metropolitan Police, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the Express article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The quotes attributed to Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police spokesperson are consistent with those found in the press release dated October 24, 2025. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai)) No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting originality.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from the Express, a reputable UK newspaper. However, it is also republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which raises concerns about the reliability of the information. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-met-police-sadiq-khan-ignored-problem?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about the Metropolitan Police reassessing 9,000 grooming gang cases are plausible and align with statements from the police. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language used are consistent with typical reporting on such topics.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents new information regarding the reassessment of grooming gang cases by the Metropolitan Police, based on a recent press release. While the quotes and claims are consistent with official statements, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources and the presence of the narrative across low-quality sites or clickbait networks raise concerns about its reliability. Further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended.

Sadiq Khan
Grooming gangs
Metropolitan Police