December 9th – Westminster - After months of political wrangling and procedural delays, the UK Government has confirmed that the long-awaited national inquiry into grooming gangs will finally move ahead. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Tuesday that Baroness Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner for England, will chair the investigation. In a statement to Parliament, Mahmood clarified elements of the inquiry’s terms of reference, stressing that the national probe will have stronger statutory powers than local investigations. These powers will enable the inquiry to compel witnesses to give evidence and require agencies — including police forces — to hand over relevant documents. Baroness Longfield has pledged to approach the investigation with complete independence, promising the inquiry, “will not shy away from difficult or uncomfortable truths wherever we find them”. Mahmood echoed this sentiment, saying the process will, “go where the evidence takes them”, an...