The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has unveiled a new initiative to crack down on grooming gangs that target children. The Grooming Gangs Taskforce will consist of specialist officers who will be deployed to assist police forces with live child sexual exploitation and grooming investigations.
As part of the initiative, data analysts will work alongside the task force using "cutting-edge data and intelligence" to identify criminals who carry out child exploitation offenses. Speaking at the formal launch of the task force in Leeds and Manchester this afternoon, Sunak vowed to end political correctness in keeping young girls safe.
"For too long," he said, "political correctness has stopped us from weeding out vile criminals who prey on children and young women." He also warned that ethnicity data would be used to assist police investigating grooming gangs.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced accusations of 'dog whistle' politics from Labour as she announced tougher sentences for those convicted of such crimes. She also called for a consultation on a mandatory duty on professionals working with children in England to report concerns about possible sexual abuse.
Braverman further attacked authorities who "turn a blind eye to signs of abuse." In contrast, Sunak promised that his plan would provide greater protection for vulnerable children across the country by identifying those responsible for exploiting them.
This move is expected to receive wide support as it aims at protecting innocent individuals from being exploited by people with malicious intent.