The Grooming Gangs Inquiry: How can victims and survivors have their say?

Victims and survivors of grooming gang abuse can now apply for a formal role in the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs.

Applications are currently open for Core Participant status in the Inquiry’s National Accountability Hearings, giving victims and survivors, groups representing them and others with a significant interest an opportunity to have their say.

The Inquiry will examine the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by grooming gangs across England and Wales and the failures of the institutions that were supposed to protect them.

Core Participants have particular procedural rights, which can include receiving relevant evidence, making opening and closing statements and, through their recognised legal representative and with the Chair’s permission, proposing questions for witnesses.

The deadline for applications is now 5pm on 28 August 2026, having been extended by two weeks. If you are considering applying for Core Participant status, please get in touch. I can advise you on whether an application may be appropriate and help you through the process.

What is the Grooming Gangs Inquiry?

There have been many cases of children across England and Wales being sexually abused and exploited by grooming gangs, raising serious questions about how and why institutions responsible for protecting children failed to do so.

The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has been established under the Inquiries Act 2005. It will investigate what happened, how organisations responded, why children were not protected and what needs to change.

The Inquiry will carry out both national and local investigations.

Its National Accountability Hearings will examine the actions of national organisations and why recommendations made by previous inquiries and reviews were not consistently implemented or did not result in meaningful change.

More than 800 recommendations have already been made by previous inquiries and reviews into grooming gangs. The Inquiry will examine what happened to those recommendations and why change did not always follow.

The first local investigations will cover Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London, with further areas to be announced. The Inquiry will also revisit areas where previous inquiries and reviews have taken place to consider what progress has been made.

What is a Core Participant?

Core Participants have a formal role in a public inquiry.

You do not need to be a Core Participant to provide evidence or share your experience with the Inquiry. However, being designated a Core Participant gives you certain rights within the Inquiry process.

Depending on the circumstances, these can include:

• Receiving disclosure of relevant evidence
• Making opening and closing statements at hearings
• Suggesting questions for witnesses
• Applying to the Chair for permission to ask questions through a recognised legal representative.

The Inquiry Chair decides who will be designated as a Core Participant. In making that decision, the Chair will consider matters including whether the person or organisation played, or may have played, a direct and significant role in the matters being investigated and/or has a significant interest in an important aspect of the Inquiry.

Why might Core Participant status matter?

The Inquiry has said that victims and survivors will be at the centre of its work.

Core Participant status can provide an opportunity for those most closely connected to the issues being investigated to play a formal part in the Inquiry process and engage with the evidence as its work progresses.

This is particularly significant given the Inquiry will examine not only the abuse and exploitation that took place, but how institutions responded and why previous opportunities for change were missed.

For victims and survivors, and organisations representing them, taking part can help ensure the Inquiry hears directly from those with experience of the issues it is investigating.

The deadline for applications is approaching

Applications for Core Participant status for the National Accountability Hearings are open now.

If you are considering applying, it is important not to leave it until the last minute. An application needs to explain your interest in the Inquiry and why you believe you meet the criteria for Core Participant status.

Separate application periods will be announced for Core Participant status in the Inquiry’s local investigations into Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London.

Other ways to have your say

Core Participant status is not the only way to contribute to the Inquiry. You do not need to be a Core Participant to share your experience or provide evidence.

The Inquiry has also launched a National Listening Project to hear directly from victims and survivors of grooming gangs, as well as family members, friends and survivor groups across England and Wales.

The experiences shared will help the Inquiry understand the impact of abuse, identify issues that need further investigation, shape its work and inform its recommendations.

Importantly, you do not have to live in one of the areas currently selected for a local investigation to share your experience with the Inquiry.

How can we help?

I have a history of representing and supporting victims and survivors of abuse, including those engaging with major public inquiries. This includes the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.

If you are a victim or survivor, represent a group of victims and survivors, or otherwise have a significant interest in the issues being examined by the Inquiry and are considering applying for Core Participant status, please get in touch. I can advise you on whether an application may be appropriate, or whether another option may be more suitable, and help you through the process.

You can speak to me in complete confidence.

Please contact the office on 0207 288 4802 or email alancollins@bbkllp.co.uk.

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