BBC blasted over Sadiq Khan coverage into grooming gangs scandal

The BBC has been slammed for failing to properly scrutinise Sadiq Khan in its coverage of London's grooming gang epidemic. Nine thousand cases of child sexual exploitation are being reviewed by the Metropolitan Police despite the Mayor's previous denials that any operated in the capital.

The announcement came after an Express/MyLondon investigation exposed several potential grooming gang cases in London that appeared to have been overlooked. Mr Khan has repeatedly stated there were "no reports" or "indications" that London was blighted by the type of abuse that affected towns like Rochdale and Rotherham.

But the BBC's report into the Met's announcement failed to mention these crucial details.

Conservative London Assembly member Susan Hall said it was "disappointing" from the BBC not to have thrown any spotlight on the Mayor.

"They do not appear to have even noticed that he has been reluctant to address the issue.

"Some may say this is the normal bias from them, I won't comment, but I sincerely hope that they open their eyes and see that a Mayor with massive responsibilities and a budget to match should get far more attention and scrutiny from them than the constant reporting of his perceived successful projects like endless community events."

In a statement, the Met said it was reinvestigating the cases which involve "intra-familial, peer-on-peer and in institutional settings, along with those which do not fit the common understanding of a 'grooming gang'".

The cases are being re-examined following a national review into group-based child sexual exploitation, which found it was more widespread, organised, and underreported than previously acknowledged.

The force said it took all "allegations or concerns about child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation incredibly seriously".

Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said reports flagged by the Express would be among those reinvestigated by the force.

The reviews will be completed by April 2026.

The cases under review span the past 15 years since 2010.

Baroness Casey's report, the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, external, also found a "mismatch" in the way the way the Metropolitan Police and local authorities record child abuse.

Published in June, it found the ethnicity of people involved had been "shied away from" by authorities.

On Saturday, Scotland Yard said group-based offending was "particularly insidious and devastating in its profound impact on the children affected".

In a statement, the force added: "Since 2022, there have been significant improvements to how the Met identifies and investigates group-based offending, including training for 11,000 frontline officers and the expansion of our child exploitation teams.

"In the last year we have solved three times more cases of child sexual exploitation - representing 134 more suspects charged.

"Our commitment to safeguarding all victims of such terrible offences and bringing those responsible to justice is absolute."

A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan said the information had been published because "the mayor demanded full transparency and has consistently asked the Met to leave no stone unturned when investigating these appalling crimes".

The spokesperson added: "Any individuals or gangs exploiting children for sex are utterly abhorrent.

"Sadiq is quite clear that they must face the full force of the law.

"These children have not only suffered terrible abuse at the hands of the perpetrators but have been woefully let down by the authorities meant to protect them from harm."

The BBC has been contacted for a response.