Survivor wants Wales' own grooming gangs inquiry

A survivor of child sexual exploitation has repeated her call for a Wales-specific inquiry into the issue.

The woman, who goes by the pseudonym Emily Vaughn, had her experiences shared in the Senedd earlier this year by the Welsh Conservatives as they pushed Welsh ministers to instigate an inquiry here.

Despite the UK government's decision to launch one covering Wales and England, she said Wales needed to "wake up" to the fact that abuse did not stop at borders.

The Senedd voted against Tory calls for a Wales-specific inquiry in January, but unanimously supported a Plaid Cymru amendment that Welsh ministers should consider one and also carry out an audit of cases with police.

The prime minister announced an inquiry to cover Wales and England on the weekend, following a report from Baroness Louise Casey, who led an audit into abuse and exploitation.

Her report was published on Monday alongside a statement in the Commons from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Ms Vaughn, who is now in her 30s, said she was first groomed at the age of 11 and abused from the age of 14.

She said she was trafficked to Telford, Blackpool and within Wales, and was raped repeatedly.

In a statement, she said: "It is time for Wales to wake up to the truth that grooming, sexual exploitation and organised abuse do not stop at regional borders.

"Survivors in Wales have long been silenced, overlooked, or forced to seek justice through systems not built with their experiences in mind.

"While inquiries have been launched in England and other parts of the UK, the specific cultural, institutional, and social factors unique to Wales have yet to be properly investigated or addressed.

"There needs to be an independent public inquiry into grooming gangs and systemic sexual exploitation in Wales."

Ms Vaughn later clarified that there should be a Wales-specific inquiry which should: "look at children trafficked into Wales and around Wales for both sexual and criminal exploitation".

Senedd Conservative leader Darren Millar said on Monday that he welcomed the UK government's inquiry, but it was long overdue and it vindicated people such as Ms Vaughn.

A freedom of information request made by BBC Wales in March revealed Welsh police forces had identified no current widespread issues with grooming gangs.

The Welsh government said on Monday it welcomed the new inquiry and would: "consider its recommendations in full to inform our actions".

"Our ten-year Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Child Sexual Abuse is due out for public consultation shortly," it added.

"There are four strands to the strategy which are prevention, protection, supporting children and young people and their families, and supporting adult survivors."