Barrow Council backs national inquiry into grooming gangs scandal
Councillors commit to supporting the independent commission and highlight the need for accountability after years of survivors speaking out
Barrow Council has formally backed the national inquiry into the nation-wide grooming gangs scandal.
Barrow Town Council has passed a motion to support the national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The town council met on the night of November 18 and agreed to pass a motion that they would write to the independent commission and offer its full support and urge Michelle Scrogham, MP for Barrow and Furness, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Police to support the inquiry.
This comes after the government announced a national statutory inquiry into the scandal in June 2025.
The motion also carried to recognise that Barrow has been affected by organised grooming gangs and that local victims deserve truth, accountability and justice.
It also acknowledges the immense courage of whistle-blowers and grooming gang survivors that have campaigned for the national inquiry.
Town council leader Andy Coles told the meeting: “Firstly I speak as a survivor myself in moving this amendment as full disclosure in the debate.”
He continued: “Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable.
“Children as young as 10, exploited, abused, plied with drugs and alcohol, brutally raped by gangs of mostly men and then disgracefully let down again and again by the authorities who were meant to protect them and keep them safe.
“Those despicable crimes cause the most profound harm to victims and survivors throughout their lives.
“This scandal, and the abhorrent continuing crimes of child sexual exploitation and abuse that persist in this country today, are a stain on our society.”
The Labour Group leader also said: “It’s the survivors voices that need to be heard backed up by the independent commission that considers the evidence, data and referrals from local agencies, victims and survivors and members of the public. “
He added: “We should allow the independent commission and survivors to get on with the inquiry and hope that it’s started quickly.”
The Barrow branches of both the Conservative Party and Reform UK have been contacted for comment.