The UK's interior minister, Yvette Cooper, announced on Thursday that a budget of nearly 6 million euros would be allocated to fund new local investigations into the scandal that has affected dozens of towns in central and northern England since 2000.

The government today announced a new national-level "rapid audit" of grooming gangs, plus up to five new local inquiries. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the government will launch a national three-month audit, led by Dame Louise Casey, which will examine "cultural and societal drivers" of child sexual exploitation.

Elon Musk forced the Government into commissioning new grooming gangs inquiries, a minister has admitted. Chris Bryant, a junior culture minister, said it was “certainly true” that the billionaire owner of X had “expedited” fresh investigations into the scandal.

UK Interior minister Yvette Cooper also said several new local inquiries into cases of abuse would be launched, bowing to political pressure for further action but stopping short of demands for a new nationwide inquiry.

Yvette Cooper announces £2million funding for grooming gangs inquiryReuters