A new police taskforce focused on tackling grooming gangs will focus on protecting young women and girls from sexual abuse.
Specialist officers will be part of the group that will work with local police forces to solve child sexual exploitation investigations.
It will be led by police and supported by the National Crime Agency, with officers with ‘extensive experience’ in undertaking investigations into grooming gangs.
The plan will also see ethnicity data used to assist police in something ministers will argue is necessary to ensure ‘cultural sensitivities’ are not used to prevent criminals avoiding being caught.
The Prime Minister is set to make the announcement tomorrow (Monday) and has said ‘political correctness’ will not get in the way of a crackdown on the sexual abuse gangs.
Mr Sunak warned that for too long ‘political correctness has stopped us from weeding out vile criminals who prey on children and young women’.
He vowed: ‘We will stop at nothing to stamp out these dangerous gangs.’
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has singled out British Pakistani men over concerns about grooming gangs as she accused authorities of turning a ‘blind eye’ to signs of abuse over fears of being labelled ‘racist’ or ‘bigoted’.
It came as she announced plans for a consultation on introducing a mandatory duty on professionals working with children to report concerns about sexual abuse.
Mr Sunak will also say that grooming gang members and leaders will receive the toughest sentences possible, with the introduction of new legislation that would make membership an aggravated factor in sentencing.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: ‘Grooming gangs are a scourge on our society and I want to send a clear message to anyone who exploits vulnerable children that they will face the full weight of the law.
‘This builds on the extensive action this Government has already taken to introduce tougher sentencing, and the reforms introduced last week in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars, while making sure victims get the support they need at all times.’
The announcements come after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse last year described sexual abuse of children as an ‘epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake’.
The seven-year inquiry into institutional failings in England and Wales concluded that people in positions of trust should be compelled by law to report child sexual abuse.
Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the inquiry, welcomed the announcements.
‘The commitment to mandatory reporting is very encouraging, and I look forward to working with the Government to ensure that the full package of the inquiry’s recommendations in its final report is taken forward to better protect children from sexual abuse in the future.’
Ministers have said they will also provide extra support for the NSPCC’s whistleblowing helpline.
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