A privately-run inquiry says UK grooming gangs have abused victims for decades while the government and police looked away — bad news for the political establishment, and a sign of deep distrust in British institutions.

• A new report claims 250,000 children were abused by grooming gangs over 30 to 40 years, calling even that number conservative.
• The government refused a full legal inquiry that could force witnesses to testify, so this one was done privately with volunteers over 15 months.
• The report links the abuse to parts of the Muslim population that don't integrate, and blames officials for staying silent out of fear of being called racist.
• It accuses the Labour Party of going easy on the issue to protect Muslim votes, and says Nigel Farage promised an inquiry then dropped it.
• Rupert Lowe, who led the effort after being pushed out of Reform, says he has faced death threats and ties the gangs to organized crime and prostitution.

Outlook: Pressure for a full legal inquiry will grow, and the issue will stay politically explosive as Labour faces accusations of covering it up.