Survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in the Bradford district have endured unimaginable suffering. For years, victims and their families have spoken out about the devastating abuse they have faced, yet there has never been a full independent inquiry into the extent of these crimes or the systemic failings that allowed them to persist. It is time for that to change.

Alongside Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore and survivors from the district, I have written to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, urging her to include Bradford in the government’s recently announced pilot inquiries into local grooming gangs. We firmly believe that the failure to hold an independent inquiry has left victims without justice and continues to put more children at risk.

The scale of the issue in Bradford is deeply concerning. Reports suggest that the crisis here could be as significant—if not greater—than those uncovered in Rotherham, Rochdale, Oldham, and Telford. Other towns have faced their moment of reckoning, but Bradford has not. Instead, survivors have been left with unanswered questions and a deep sense of betrayal.

Bradford Council has previously refused to commission a full inquiry, opting instead for a limited review of just five cases. This approach echoes the initial denials by local leaders in Rotherham, where survivors were ignored for years. Our letter to the Home Secretary highlights the need for decisive action, stating: 'When local leaders refuse calls for an inquiry, it is only right that you do the right thing and step in.'

While the Council maintains that it has conducted extensive reviews, this does not go far enough. The community needs transparency, accountability, and meaningful change. The survivors who have come forward deserve more than partial investigations and repeated assurances—they deserve a full and independent inquiry that examines not only the crimes committed but also the failures that enabled them.

We welcome the Home Secretary’s recent commitment to laying out a clear timetable by Easter for implementing national recommendations on tackling grooming gangs. However, any national response must include a thorough investigation into what has happened in Bradford. Without this, we risk leaving survivors without the justice they deserve and failing to prevent future abuse.

The time for action is now. We urge the Home Secretary to include Bradford in the inquiry process and ensure it has the proper powers to expose the full truth. Only then can we begin to deliver the justice and accountability that survivors have long been denied.

At Switalskis, we understand how daunting it can be to take legal action, especially after being told in the past that time had run out. Our team is here to offer confidential advice and support to anyone considering bringing a claim. If you would like to speak to a member of our team in confidence, please contact us today by calling 0800 138 0458 or email help@switalskis.com