'This is a dark stain on our nation': Ex-cop joins calls for national inquiry into grooming gangs

The ex-officer's comments come amid renewed debate about the need for a national investigation into the scandal that saw thousands of mainly white girls being abused by men of predominantly Pakistani origin.

In an exclusive interview with GB News, he said: "This is a deep, dark stain upon the history of our nation, and this [national inquiry] is the only way that victims and survivors are going to be properly served.

"The public's concerns will be addressed and some level of accountability will be handed down to those who failed is by having such an inquiry, an inquiry where witnesses can be compelled, in other words, forced to attend and give evidence.

"However, that said, Kemi Badenoch is like so many other politicians jumping on the bandwagon.

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"This story has been rolling for a number of years, and courageous people like the wonderful Maggie Oliver, who resigned from her job so that she could tell the truth about what was going on, Charlie Peters from GB News, who relentlessly pursued this story and others.

"Those heroic people have got this story to where it is now, and they deserve a huge level of praise. Their work needs now to be rewarded and supported by a full public inquiry."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has identified perpetrators as coming from "sub-communities" within foreign countries, describing them as people from "very, very poor, sort of peasant background".

Speaking to GB News after meeting survivors, Badenoch highlighted what she called a "systematic pattern of behaviour" among offenders.

She described the perpetrators as being from "very, very rural" backgrounds, "almost cut off from even the home origin countries that they might have been in."

The Conservative leader noted that the abusers were "not necessarily first generation" immigrants, adding that their occupations had "allowed them to exhibit this predatory behaviour."

Badenoch emphasised the need to examine cultural issues surrounding the problem while warning against making generalisations that could affect innocent people.

Badenoch also highlighted what she described as a "culture of silence" within state institutions.

The government has stated that another national inquiry is not needed, following a seven-year investigation published in 2022 by Professor Alexis Jay.

Officials maintain that focus should instead be on implementing Professor Jay's 20 recommendations, favouring locally-led inquiries.

The debate has gained international attention after tech billionaire Elon Musk criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's involvement in prosecuting grooming gangs during his time as chief prosecutor from 2008-2013.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion has joined calls for a national inquiry, though she supports it being led locally.

Badenoch has repeatedly clashed with Sir Keir Starmer over the issue, insisting a national inquiry would "shine a light on the truth and hold people to account."