Grooming gang review kept secret as Home Office claims releasing findings ‘not in public interest’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The government is refusing to release official research on the characteristics of grooming gangs, claiming it is not in the “public interest”. In addition, the information could be misleading if made public and used out of context.” Rotherham grooming ring: seven men convicted of sexually exploiting vulnerable teenage girls The Home Office’s FOI unit said the documents also included “operationally sensitive” information from police and could prejudice ongoing investigations. “The government’s repeated failure to acknowledge the role of racism and religious bigotry in grooming gang crime has led to inadequate investigation, protection and prosecution,” she said. The Home Office has said it will soon publish a national strategy that will set out a “whole system response to all forms of child sexual abuse”.