Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officers her Department plans to employ in the Grooming Gangs Taskforce.

The Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce will help improve how the police investigate child sexual exploitation and protect children from abuse.

The Home Office has made £2.1million available, through the National Police Chiefs Council, to fund the Taskforce, in FY 23/24.

The allocation of resources within the Taskforce is an operational decision, but will include experienced and qualified Review Officers, experienced analysts, and expert Senior Investigating Officers with practical experience of undertaking grooming gang investigations.

The Taskforce with provide practical, expert, on the ground support for forces on all forms of child sexual abuse, with a particular focus on complex and organised child sexual exploitation, including grooming gangs.