The inquiry said its decision to conduct an investigation in Birmingham reflected a combination of factors “including victim and survivor experience, indications of prevalence, harm and risk, and public concern”.
Panel member Zoë Billingham said: “We will look carefully at what organisations knew, how decisions were made, how agencies worked together, and why opportunities to protect children were missed”.
The Birmingham investigation may extend to surrounding or connected areas if the evidence supports it.
Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, welcomed the move. She praised Baroness Longfield as an “amazing and robust” public servant, adding that those already taking part in the inquiry “felt that they’ve been heard”.
But she said her main hope for the inquiry was for it to create “the impetus for change”, adding that she did not want the process “to go on for decades”.
Birmingham Local Conservatives, which had previously called for the city’s grooming cases to be fully investigated, also welcomed the announcement – saying questions had gone unanswered for too long.
The investigation in Wales will also examine the operation of devolved arrangements and cross-border working between organisations in Wales and England.
The Welsh government welcomed the announcement, and said minister Delyth Jewell had met Baroness Longfield earlier this week to press for “dedicated activity” in Wales as part of the national inquiry.
The Welsh Conservatives and Reform also supported the news. Both parties have previously called for a Wales-only grooming gangs inquiry, but failed to win support from the government under both Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru.
Additional reporting by David Deans and Trystan Jones.
