Police say extra funds to hunt grooming gangs in England and Wales will ‘likely fall short’
The UK government has announced a significant increase in funding to combat grooming gangs, but police warn it may not be sufficient. The funding boost includes nearly £38 million for Operation Beaconport and £9 million for AI technology to aid in detecting online abusers. Despite the financial support, police sources express concerns that the resources will fall short of what is necessary to effectively tackle the issue.
- ▪The government announced a near tenfold increase in funding for detectives hunting grooming gangs.
- ▪Police warn that the increased funding will likely fall short of what is needed to effectively tackle group-based child exploitation.
- ▪The funding includes nearly £38 million for Operation Beaconport and £9 million for AI technology to detect online abusers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The scale and complexity of the reviews involved are expected to require a significant number of officers over an extended period. Photograph: Robert Matton AB/AlamyView image in fullscreenThe scale and complexity of the reviews involved are expected to require a significant number of officers over an extended period. Photograph: Robert Matton AB/AlamyPolicePolice say extra funds to hunt grooming gangs in England and Wales will ‘likely fall short’Government announces a near tenfold increase but forces fear it will not cover anticipated cost of dedicated teamsRajeev Syal Home affairs editorTue 19 May 2026 08.05 EDTLast modified on Tue 19 May 2026 08.06 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleKeir Starmer’s government has announced a near tenfold increase in funding for detectives hunting…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at World news | The Guardian.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from World news | The Guardian
