CASES of kids being groomed for sex have shot up by nearly 550 per cent in eight years, figures show.
In 2016, there were 1,157 reported cases of sexual grooming of children in England and Wales.
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Cases of kids being groomed for sex have shot up by nearly 550 per cent in just 8 years
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing renewed calls for a national inquiryCredit: PA
But by last June, the latest data available, the number was 7,479 — a 546 per cent increase.
The Home Office figures, covering offending by individuals and gangs, also reveal how grooming has grown in the past two decades.
In the year 2004 to 2005, there were 186 cases — just two per cent of the total recorded in June 2024.
Cases jumped significantly to 1,157 in 2016. A year later, the number soared to 4,625.
READ MORE ON GROOMING GANGS
Grooming gangs often target more than one victim, meaning the number of children affected could be significantly higher than the number of cases.
And yesterday, another set of figures showed two reports of child sex abuse by grooming gangs were made to police every day in the past two years.
The revelations come as Labour faces renewed calls for a national inquiry.
Tycoon Elon Musk has attacked PM Sir Keir Starmer and his safeguarding minister Jess Phillips after she rejected Oldham council calls for a probe into grooming gangs of predominantly Pakistani heritage in the town.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told Sir Keir he risks accusations of a cover-up.
The PM has said Prof Alexis Jay’s seven-year child sexual abuse inquiry, reported in 2022, had been thorough enough.
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Her 20 recommendations have yet to be implemented.
Reform MP Rupert Lowe said: “Show the British people the full truth. I want prosecutions, and deportations.”
A Home Office spokesman said grooming has been “historically under-reported and under-recorded”.
He added: “The Home Secretary has been very clear that we need to uncover these crimes and bring offenders to justice.”