Boris Johnson has called for a national inquiry into the rape gang scandal that has plagued Britain for years.

The issue of grooming has been thrust back into the public spotlight after Labour denied backing a Whitehall-led inquiry.

Despite a deluge of testimonies from victims and their families, Labour has so far resisted calls and said historic recommendations around safeguarding children will instead be implemented.

Speaking on GB News, the former prime minister acknowledged national inquiries can be a “waste of money”, but feels one is necessary in this case.

Boris Johnson has called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs

“I think the whole approach of the criminal justice system is not tough enough”, he told Patrick Christys.

“You look at some of these things like the business with the grooming gangs and all this nonsense - come down much harder.

Charlie Peters's report revealed only 500 convictions and zero deportations related to grooming gangs have been carried out since 2011 GB NEWS

“I think it’s absolutely extraordinary. I can’t comment about it in detail but it looks like a pretty systematic habit of exploitation of young girls and no matter who is doing it, it needs to be stamped out.

“I don’t know quite why we don’t have a proper national inquiry into it.”

Asked what he would do were he still prime minister, he said: “in my view, inquiries can often be a huge waste of taxpayers’ time and money.

“But in this particular case, I think I want to understand how this thing has been going on in this way.”

Boris Johnson joined Patrick Christys on GB News

It comes after a shocking GB News exposé mapped the intense nature of Britain’s grooming gang networks.

Partnering with researchers from Crime Spotlight, the People’s Channel was able to compile a full national dossier of the scandal.

The mapping shows trafficking network lines stretching over thousands of miles, demonstrating its status as a truly nationwide crisis.

Some reports have been made direct to GB News direct to GB News by sources directly involved in cases, from survivors to those tasked with supporting them.

Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick said: "This crucial research helps to uncover the full horror of the rape gangs. It shows the sheer scale of the rape gangs and just how evil their crimes were.

"Politicians are either supportive of a full national inquiry, with the power to get answers and accountability for the victims, or they are part of the cover up.

"Every single individual involved in these gangs must be prosecuted and, if they are foreign nationals, also deported. No ifs, no buts."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced earlier this year that Casey’s audit would see five local inquiries launched into the gangs with several funding measures for survivors.

But Labour was later accused of “watering down” its approach when Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips announced a “flexible” approach to the inquiries and bring in “locally-led work” after hearing feedback from local authorities.