Nearly 1,000 previously closed cases surrounding grooming allegations have been reopened, Yvette Cooper has told GB News.

The Home Secretary says investigators are looking for new evidence after the Government announced plans to launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.

She was asked by GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope when we can expect a timescale and details on who will be leading the inquiry.

“We will set out the details as soon as we can. This is obviously an issue we are taking immensely seriously”, Cooper told the People’s Channel.

Yvette Cooper said information on who will lead the inquiry will be announced in due course

“What I can tell you is we now have nearly 1,000 cases that had previously been closed by the police with no further action where there had been allegations around grooming, around the most vile child sexual exploitation and the rape of children.

“Those cases are now being reviewed to look for new evidence. Alongside the national inquiry that we set out in response to Louise Casey’s review, we crucially have these police cases being reviewed.

“Frankly, when you’re being faced with these appalling crimes, the most important thing is getting the perpetrators behind bars.”

Cooper was then asked by Dawn Neesom about the rising number of migrant crossings, with a staggering total logged on the day Keir Starmer announced a new returns deal with France.

Cooper joined Christopher Hope and Dawn Neeson on GB News

Neesom said the rise of grooming gangs is one of the many issues sparked by young, fighting age men making their way across the Channel in their droves.

The Home Secretary said: “We are bringing in changes to prevent any sex offenders being able to claim asylum in the UK.

“That had not happened before and I think we should have that stronger law in our country.

“That new law going through has been opposed by both the Conservatives and Reform UK, I think we should have that stronger law in place.

“We shouldn’t have these dangerous boat crossings in the first place. We are taking action across the board to build the foundations of a stronger approach.”

Sir Keir Starmer bowed to pressure to launch a grooming gangs inquiry in June after insisting it was not needed.

He told the BBC his decision to follow Dame Louise Casey’s recommendation was a “practical, common sense way of doing politics”.

The Prime Minister commissioned Casey to write a report to “double check” the issue.

Starmer opted to launch an inquiry after months of pressure

Baroness Casey said she wanted the inquiry to create a “national reset” on the grooming gangs issue and called on officials to be “open” to scrutiny and change.