British police will now be required to record the ethnicity of individuals involved in organized child sexual abuse, following a report released on June 16 that highlighted serious governmental and institutional failures in addressing the issue. The report also criticized a persistent reluctance to acknowledge the disproportionate involvement of Asian men.

For nearly 15 years, the UK has been rocked by revelations of so-called “grooming gangs” exploiting thousands of children, with authorities often accused of inaction due to fears of being labeled racist. While critics on the left argue that far-right groups have used the scandal to target Asian communities, others believe avoiding discussion about ethnicity has hurt victims. The issue gained renewed attention this year after U.S. billionaire Elon Musk publicly criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the matter. In response, the government commissioned a review by House of Lords member Louise Casey.

The report found that in three regions, there was “clear evidence” of Asian and Pakistani men being over-represented among suspects. Yet, in about two-thirds of cases, the suspects’ ethnicity had not been recorded. It criticized the system for failing to properly acknowledge the issue or collect reliable data, often due to fears of appearing racist or causing community tension. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper apologized to victims in Parliament, admitting there had been overreliance on flawed data, denial, and a lack of justice, resulting in offenders escaping accountability and victims being abandoned.

The government has accepted all of the report's recommendations, including launching a national inquiry—something it had previously resisted. Opposition parties, including Reform UK and the Conservatives, accused the government of delaying justice. To address these concerns, the National Crime Agency will now help identify and pursue the abusers. Cooper said over 800 cases are already under review, with that number expected to exceed 1,000 soon. She acknowledged that survivors had been overlooked for too long, and that a combination of ignorance, fear, misplaced intentions, and institutional defensiveness contributed to a widespread failure.