The UK government has announced a near tenfold increase in funding for detectives investigating grooming gangs, but police forces have warned that the amount will 'likely fall short' of what is needed to cover the anticipated costs.
Funding Increase Announced
Operation Beaconport, established last year to review closed group-based sexual exploitation inquiries in England and Wales, will receive nearly £38 million, up from £4 million last year, according to a Home Office statement. Additionally, police forces will receive £9 million to deploy AI technology for faster detection of online abusers, part of a broader £100 million package to combat child sexual abuse.
Police Concerns
Despite the increase, police sources have warned that the funding will 'likely fall short' of what is needed. The scale and complexity of the reviews require a significant number of officers over an extended period, and the increased cash is not expected to cover the cost of dedicated teams.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is under political pressure to address grooming gangs, a key issue for Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. The extra funding follows the resignation of Home Office minister Jess Phillips, who criticized Starmer for lacking urgency in tackling online abuse.
Political and Institutional Response
Phillips responded to the announcement, stating it was 'about time' that grooming gangs and child sexual abuse were prioritized. She added that efforts must now focus on preventing harm. Ministers faced renewed pressure in January 2025 after Elon Musk highlighted the government's refusal of Oldham council's request for a second national inquiry.
Starmer announced a specific grooming gangs inquiry in June, but it stalled due to disputes over its remit and difficulties finding a chair. Anne Longfield, former children's commissioner for England, eventually agreed to chair the £65 million statutory inquiry, which will examine whether ethnicity, culture, or religion influenced offending and institutional responses.
Technological and Operational Measures
Police officers will gain access to 'AI-enabled intelligence tools' to analyze large datasets, translate foreign-language material, and identify patterns among suspects. The government claims the technology will help bring predators to justice regardless of force size or resources. An additional £11.7 million will fund the Undercover Online Network, which targets predators on the dark web and has safeguarded 1,748 children and made 1,797 arrests between April 2024 and 2025.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the grooming gangs scandal as 'one of the darkest moments in our country's history' and vowed to track down offenders. The National Crime Agency's Jav Oomer welcomed the funding, noting the increasing complexity and severity of child sexual abuse offending.
