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Tributes Pour in for Andrew Norfolk, Journalist Who Exposed Grooming Gangs

Norfolk's fearless reporting reshaped public discourse on child sexual exploitation and institutional failure, prompting calls for a long-delayed national inquiry.

Andrew Norfolk (1965-2025)
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Andrew Norfolk won the Orwell prize for his investigation into grooming gangs
Norfolk’s reporting led to a national action plan on child sexual exploitation

Overview

  • Andrew Norfolk, former chief investigative reporter for The Times, died on May 8, 2025, at age 60 after collapsing during a routine medical appointment.
  • His groundbreaking reporting exposed the systematic sexual exploitation of at least 1,400 underage girls in northern England, leading to the 2014 Jay Inquiry.
  • Norfolk’s work prompted then-DPP Sir Keir Starmer to reform prosecution guidelines, enabling more convictions of grooming gang perpetrators.
  • Colleagues and public figures, including Starmer and Times editor Tony Gallagher, praised Norfolk for his courage, integrity, and dedication to justice.
  • Despite his efforts, Norfolk expressed regret in his final interview that the root causes of the grooming scandal remain unexamined, with ministers still deferring a national inquiry.