WQ95499 (e) Tabled on 17/01/2025

Has the Welsh Government contacted all social services departments regarding Pakistani-heritage rape gangs which may have been operating in their respective authority areas?

Answered by Minister for Children and Social Care | Answered on 22/01/2025

We hold regular meetings with Regional Safeguarding Board chairs where we discuss emerging issues, areas of concern and each Regional Safeguarding Board provides a specific update for their region. Ensuring the welfare of children and young people is of paramount importance, there are defined processes in place to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns.

We welcome the decision by the Home Secretary to ask all police forces, including in Wales, to review historic gang exploitation cases where no further action was taken. We also welcome the UK Government’s announcement of a national review across the UK led by Baroness Casey and will be engaging fully with this review.