No 'current widespread' Wales grooming gang issues

Welsh police forces have said there are no "current widespread issues" with grooming gangs in Wales, and that they are not complacent on the matter.

The disclosure comes in a release of correspondence between the Welsh government and police forces, following a Freedom of Information request by BBC Wales.

The Welsh Conservatives have called for an independent inquiry into grooming gangs, but their demand for it to definitely take place was voted down in the Welsh Parliament last month.

Their Senedd leader Darren Millar said it was important to remember that previous similar assurances by police forces were found to be false.

On the same day as the Conservative defeat, Senedd members voted unanimously in favour of an inquiry to be considered by ministers, after a review of police evidence takes place.

Warning: this story includes details of sexual abuse

The release of documents shows that Welsh government officials contacted police forces on 6 January to ask whether they had any concerns around grooming gangs.

The responses appear to have been co-ordinated by South Wales Police.

They say they received "formal confirmation" from Dyfed Powys Police that they have "no organised crime groups linked to grooming gangs and that the issue is not considered to be a significant one in the force area".

Gwent police say they "do not have any known gangs and grooming issues as regards sexual exploitation" and go on to say there is a case involving a child in their area, subject to grooming for criminal exploitation, which is being dealt with in partnership with South Wales Police.

The Gwent force also reveals there are two historical cases of child exploitation which are being actively managed and waiting for a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.

South Wales Police say they "are comfortable with the line provided that there are no current widespread issues" involving grooming gangs for sexual exploitation.

They add: "That said policing in Wales is not complacent and continues to work with partners to identify issues of this nature and make sure vulnerable children are a priority for all."

The documents show that the Serious Organised Crime Unit at North Wales Police is involved with "a very small yet complex number of grooming investigations".

In a separate exchange a redacted representative from the South Wales force area says they have spoken to an assistant chief constable in North Wales who "agrees with the observation that whilst there have been cases of child exploitation in Wales they have not been organised in nature as seen elsewhere and do not follow the same profile as in some English towns".

On 31 January the Welsh government's safety and advocacy team wrote to the chairs of regional safeguarding boards asking if they had seen any increase in concerns being raised.

Responding to the release of information Millar said: "The police have clearly identified some 'issues' with regards grooming gang activities in Wales.

"It is important that the public knows what these issues are and where they are happening in order that we can keep young people safe and bring perpetrators to justice."

The Conservatives still want a Wales-wide inquiry.

On 14 January there were angry scenes in the Senedd when Millar was told by Presiding Officer Elin Jones to "tone down" a question about grooming gangs.

He had been discussing the case of a victim known by the pseudonym Emily Vaughn.

Now in her 30s, Emily Vaughn said that she was first groomed at the age of 11 and then abused from the age of 14.

She told BBC Wales in January she was trafficked to Telford, Blackpool and within Wales, and was raped "almost every single day".

During the exchange between Millar and the First Minister, Eluned Morgan said she had asked Welsh police forces about the extent to which grooming gangs were an issue.

Later that week Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced a "rapid audit" of grooming gangs and up to five new local inquiries.

On Monday the Welsh Conservatives criticised ministers for not releasing details of their correspondence with police.

In response to four written questions from Millar, Social Justice Secretary Jane Hutt replied: "The Welsh government is working actively with partners and stakeholders as part of our collective response to this issue.

"We take the safety of children in Wales seriously and recognise the importance of joint working with partners in this area.

"We will continue to provide regular updates on progress."