Public hearings have officially begun in the independent inquiry funded by MP Rupert Lowe, examining long-standing concerns about organised child exploitation and serious failures by public authorities to act on repeated warnings.

During the opening sessions, families and survivors described how concerns were raised for years, yet reports were delayed, dismissed or left unresolved. The inquiry is now reviewing whether police, councils and safeguarding bodies missed clear opportunities to intervene and protect vulnerable children.

For many survivors, the hearings mark the first time their experiences have been heard in a formal and independent setting. Campaigners say the inquiry represents a crucial step toward transparency after decades of unanswered questions.

The panel will focus on how information was shared between agencies, how decisions were made when concerns were escalated, and whether fear of reputational or political consequences played a role in inaction. It will also consider what reforms are needed to strengthen safeguarding systems nationwide.

Political figures from across Westminster are facing renewed pressure to explain why earlier reviews failed to deliver lasting change. As the hearings continue, public attention is expected to remain firmly fixed on who will be held accountable — and how future failures can be prevented.