LOCAL Senedd Members have welcomed the “long overdue” announcement of a UK-wide public inquiry into the prevalence of grooming gangs — and urged the Welsh Government to cooperate fully.

Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS - who was the first party leader in Wales to call for such an inquiry - challenged the First Minister over her government’s earlier refusal to support a Welsh-specific investigation. He warned that if Labour Ministers had acted in February, a dedicated inquiry for Wales would already be underway.

Mr Millar’s questions followed conversations with “Emily,” a Welsh survivor who was groomed as a teenager, trafficked across the UK, and raped more than a thousand times by gangs of men.

Following the announcement of a UK-wide inquiry, Paul Davies (Senedd Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire) said:

“Now that an inquiry into grooming gangs has been confirmed, the Welsh Government must cooperate fully by ensuring that all relevant correspondence with police, councils, and social services is published.”

He added, “We must now make sure this inquiry delivers justice for every survivor. There is no room for delay.”

Samuel Kurtz (Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) said: “This inquiry is long overdue. It should have commenced six months ago, and it is deeply disappointing that the Welsh Government voted against establishing a Welsh inquiry at the time. Equally concerning was the decision by Pembrokeshire’s Labour MP to oppose a national inquiry during a vote in Westminster.”

"With a UK-wide inquiry now confirmed, the Welsh Government must demonstrate transparency by publishing all relevant correspondence with the police, local authorities, and social services."

"Most importantly, the First Minister should meet with Emily - a courageous Welsh survivor who has spent years campaigning to protect other children. Listening to her story is the very least she deserves."