Birmingham Council pledges action as national grooming-gangs inquiry includes city

On 1 October 2026 Birmingham City Council’s leader, Cllr Roger Harmer, announced that the city will cooperate fully with the National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, which added Birmingham to its next phase on 30 September.

The statement, backed by the council’s coalition administration and the leaders of the Reform, Labour, Conservative and Independent Workers groups, reiterated that every child in Birmingham deserves safety, that victims must be heard and that perpetrators will face justice.

Harmer acknowledged that for many years safeguarding failures left children unprotected and survivors to bear the consequences, and pledged that the council will now address those shortcomings openly and without favour.

While the council said it will not shy away from difficult questions – including those about ethnicity – it warned that child sexual exploitation must never be used to divide communities, stressing that responsibility lies solely with the abusers.

Council's planned safeguarding measures

The council will commission an independent review of current safeguarding arrangements and will republish its 1991 report together with any other historic documents it can locate, allowing the public to examine the evidence themselves.

It also intends to build a dedicated support framework for victims and historical survivors of grooming gangs, and to work closely with police and specialist agencies so that those affected know where to seek help and how to report crimes.

A public awareness campaign will be launched to help families and community members recognise warning signs and understand how to raise concerns, Harmer said.

How to get help

Anyone worried about a child can contact the Children’s Advice and Support Service on 0121 303 1888, while historical survivors are asked to call 0121 643 0301 or 0121 643 4136 for support. In emergencies, callers should dial 999.