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Written question asked by Suella Braverman (Reform UK) on Monday, 27 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 April 2026. It was answered by Jess Phillips (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Offences against Children: Care Homes

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the police on the potential merits of commissioning a further investigation into abuse at Grafton Close covering the full period the home was operational.

Answer

The Government is committed to tackling all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation, ensuring victims and survivors receive appropriate care and support and pursuing offenders and bringing them to justice.

Operation Fernbridge was a police‑led investigation that has now closed. The Operation resulted in one conviction for the sexual assault of a child at Grafton Close. Decisions about the scope, conduct and timing of individual police investigations are a matter for the police, who are operationally independent of Government.

The Government expects the police to robustly investigate all allegations of child sexual abuse and are investing in a range of capabilities to improve the policing response. More generally, the Government is driving forward work to act on the recommendations and learnings from IICSA, as part of a broader comprehensive approach to preventing, identifying and responding to all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation, as set out in in the ‘Tackling child sexual abuse: progress update’ published in April 2025.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
129882
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Children Care homes Police Offences against children
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk