Letter of reply from Chair to Home Secretary
Published 10 December 2025
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Baroness Anne Longfield CBE
Chair to the Inquiry
The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
9 December 2025
Dear Home Secretary
Thank you for your letter of 9 December appointing me as Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, established under the Inquiries Act 2005.
I am honoured to undertake this important role alongside the Panellists Zoë Billingham and Eleanor Kelly. This issue is one that has had a severe and detrimental impact on victims and survivors and their families over many years, which they still endure to this day. The Inquiry owes it to them and the wider public to identify the truth, address past failings and ensure that children and young people today are protected in a way that others were not.
As you say in your letter, victims and survivors are central to this inquiry and I wholeheartedly agree. I am keen, as are the Panellists, to meet with and hear from victims and survivors as we deliver the work of the Inquiry. I am also committed to the Inquiry embedding a trauma-informed approach from the outset, to ensure that we engage sensitively and appropriately with those who wish to work with us.
I will personally reflect on the draft Terms of Reference published by the Government. I can confirm that I will also undertake a consultation and provide my recommendations to you, based on that consultation, so that you are able to publish a final Terms of Reference in March 2026.
Before then, the Inquiry will begin the important work of establishing the Inquiry secretariat, bringing on board relevant experts and starting to develop a framework via which local areas will be identified for review. As per our discussions, I can confirm that the Inquiry will prioritise Oldham as one of the areas for review. I intend to visit Oldham in due course to discuss further, including meeting with victims and survivors.
I have also asked Baroness Casey to remain as an Adviser to the Inquiry, so that I can continue to draw on her expertise and track record in shining a light on this issue.
I have resigned the Labour Whip and confirmed I will be taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords for the duration of the Inquiry.
I will set out further details publicly in January to confirm the Inquiry’s approach to consulting on the Terms of Reference.
Yours sincerely,
The Baroness Longfield CBE