London’s grooming gang scandal prompts mayor to push for overhaul after years of denial

London’s mayor responds to revelations of a massive review into historic child sexual exploitation cases, amid criticism over previous denials and systemic failures in safeguarding vulnerable children across the capital.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has responded publicly to a significant scandal involving grooming gangs in the capital, following a major review by the Metropolitan Police into thousands of historic cases. Initially, Khan had stated there were “no reports” or “indications” that London was affected by the type of child sexual exploitation seen in other areas such as Rochdale and Rotherham. However, in a stark development revealed on a Friday evening, the Metropolitan Police disclosed that they are currently reassessing approximately 9,000 cases spanning a 15-year period. This move comes after an investigation by The Daily Express and MyLondon, which exposed numerous potential grooming gang cases that had previously been overlooked.

A spokesperson for Khan emphasised his condemnation of any individual or group exploiting children for sex, labelling such acts as “utterly abhorrent.” The Mayor has asserted that perpetrators must face the full force of the law, while acknowledging that victims have been badly failed by authorities historically tasked with their protection. Khan’s office noted that he has been steadfast in urging the Metropolitan Police not to leave any stone unturned in securing justice for victims. This includes his personal request last year for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to evaluate the police’s response to child protection and exploitation issues. According to the spokesperson, the Mayor has invested more than £233 million into tackling violence against women and girls, adopting reforms such as the Met’s new ‘Child First’ safeguarding approach which aims to enhance intervention and protection for vulnerable children.

The Metropolitan Police also issued a statement recognising the particularly heinous nature of group-based child sexual exploitation and the devastating impact on victims. Since 2022, they have claimed significant improvements, including training for over 11,000 frontline officers and an expansion of child exploitation teams. They report having solved three times as many child sexual exploitation cases in the last year, charging 134 more suspects. The ongoing national reinvestigation into group-based child sexual exploitation, a recommendation from Baroness Casey’s report, underpins the current review of these thousands of cases, which also include a broad range of abuse types beyond the commonly understood grooming gang paradigm.

However, this evolving situation has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the handling of grooming gangs over the years. A former Scotland Yard detective, Bernadette Murray, has accused the Metropolitan Police of providing misleading information to Mayor Khan, suggesting that the force lacked comprehensive knowledge about grooming networks due to poor data management and even deliberately deceived the Mayor’s office. Moreover, critics argue that Khan’s earlier denials may have been influenced by political sensitivities, with some commentators claiming he prioritised support from certain voter demographics over addressing the safety of vulnerable children.

Ethnic dimensions have also complicated the discourse around grooming gangs. UK government reviews and media reports reveal that authorities historically failed to properly record the ethnicity of suspects involved in organised child sexual abuse. Over two-thirds of such cases lacked ethnicity data, impeding pattern recognition and policing efforts. Several reports, including those by Reuters and the Associated Press, highlight that a disproportionate number of suspects in grooming gangs have been Asian men, particularly of Pakistani heritage. The government has accepted recommendations to launch a national inquiry and mandate the recording of suspects’ ethnicity to improve future investigations.

Alongside these issues, Mayor Khan has initiated changes to the Metropolitan Police’s controversial ‘gangs matrix’ database, which was criticised for racial disproportionality and misuse. A review found that a significant majority of those on the database were young, Black, and many posed little or no actual harm. These findings prompted calls for a comprehensive overhaul to restore public trust and ensure adherence to data protection laws.

While efforts are now being made to address these deep-rooted failings, the scale of the grooming gang scandal in London, and the initial reluctance to acknowledge it, continues to fuel debate about accountability and the effectiveness of child protection strategies in one of the world’s largest cities. Moving forward, both the Mayor and the Metropolitan Police face intense scrutiny to demonstrate tangible progress in safeguarding children against exploitation and delivering justice for victims.

📌 Reference Map:

• Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Express), ^[2] (GB News)
• Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Express)
• Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Express)
• Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Express), ^[4] (GB News), ^[7] (GB News)
• Paragraph 5 – ^[3] (Reuters), ^[6] (AP News)
• Paragraph 6 – ^[5] (Independent), ^[1] (Express)
• Paragraph 7 – ^[1] (Express), ^[2] (GB News), ^[7] (GB News)

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative appears to be fresh, with the earliest known publication date of similar content being October 24, 2025. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-met-police-sadiq-khan-ignored-problem?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release from the Metropolitan Police, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the Express article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The quotes attributed to Sadiq Khan and the Metropolitan Police spokesperson are consistent with those found in the press release dated October 24, 2025. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai)) No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting originality.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a reputable UK newspaper. However, it is also republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks, which raises concerns about the reliability of the information. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/grooming-gangs-met-police-sadiq-khan-ignored-problem?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The claims about the Metropolitan Police reassessing 9,000 grooming gang cases are plausible and align with statements from the police. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/met-police-london-reopen-grooming-gangs-probe-b1254846.html?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language used are consistent with typical reporting on such topics.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents new information regarding the reassessment of grooming gang cases by the Metropolitan Police, based on a recent press release. While the quotes and claims are consistent with official statements, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources and the presence of the narrative across low-quality sites or clickbait networks raise concerns about its reliability. Further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended.