Human error may have led to grooming gang cases being dropped, says NCA

Operation Beaconport, a review led by the National Crime Agency, suggests human error may have caused cases involving grooming gangs to be dropped. The investigation aims to address failings in handling thousands of cases where no further action was taken against suspects. The review has identified issues such as overlooked lines of inquiry, improper victim accounts, and suspects not being adequately interviewed, leading to decisions to close investigations erroneously. This comprehensive review is set to involve thousands of officers and prioritize cases of group-based child sexual abuse, with a focus on filling data gaps and enhancing efforts to track and disrupt offenders.