Britain backs inquiries into child sex abuse

Britain will support new local inquiries into child sexual abuse, following criticism by Elon Musk.

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LONDON:

Britain will back new local inquiries into child sexual abuse across the country, the government said on Thursday, after weeks of criticism by US billionaire Elon Musk stirred renewed concern about a scandal over grooming gangs.

Interior minister Yvette Cooper said the government would set out a timetable before Easter to implement the 20 recommendations of a national inquiry published in 2022 but would also go further and back new local investigations.

"Despite all those national inquiries, reports and hundreds of recommendations, far too little action has been taken, and shamefully little progress has been made," Cooper told parliament.

In a number of past cases the perpetrators of the sexual grooming and abuse were predominantly of Pakistani heritage. A 2014 report criticised police and local authorities for failing to take action due to concerns over appearing racist.