From Panorama to the Statutory Inquiry into Grooming Gangs: What Happens Next?
On 21st September 2026, the BBC broadcast their latest Panorama episode titled ‘Grooming Gangs: Why Were We Ignored?’. The documentary has brought the experiences of victims and survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation into the forefront of the national spotlight.
The documentary explores the experiences of survivors in Oxfordshire including the barriers they encountered when seeking help. The programme comes at a significant milestone of the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs.
In July, the Inquiry has launched the National Listening Project (‘the Project’) to allow victims and survivors to share their experiences directly with the Inquiry. The Project provides contributions through many mediums such as written accounts, video and voice recordings. In Autumn 2026, the Inquiry will begin one-to-one conversations allowing survivors who wish to do so to discuss their experiences in greater depth with staff who are specialised in providing emotional support. We welcome this approach as we understand how difficult it can be for victim and survivors to discuss the abuse that they suffered during their childhood. Victims can now provide their experiences in a way that is comfortable for them.
Rather than providing a formal witness statement or legal document, the submissions made to the Project will enable the Inquiry to actually identify key issues which warrant further investigation and understand the impact of abuse to shape further recommendations.
The Inquiry also finalised their applications to Core Participant. A Core Participant is defined by the Inquiry as a person who has a significant interest in the Inquiry’s work. Although the deadline for applications to be a Core Participant has now closed, one noteworthy point for readers is that you do not have to be a Core Participant to share your past experiences through the National Listening Project.
How can Jordans Solicitor’s Help?
If you have been affected by any information provided in this article, or would like advice on how to share your experiences through the National Listening Project, and would like to speak to one of our team members in confidence, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our highly skilled abuse team will advise you on the available options and discuss pursuing a criminal injuries compensation claim and/or civil damages claim. Please contact our specialist Abuse Team at Jordans Solicitors on 08009555094 or 03303001103 or request a call back.