Sadiq Khan is facing fresh scrutiny over his previous claims about grooming gangs in London after the Met Police identified more than 4,000 potential child sexual exploitation cases that could now be reopened.
The findings, first revealed by The Telegraph, come after Scotland Yard examined around 12,000 reports of alleged child sexual exploitation dating back to 2010.
Roughly one in three cases are now flagged for potential reinvestigation after police or the Crown Prosecution Service previously decided to take no further action.
Khan previously insisted there was "no indication" grooming gangs were operating in the capital.
Appearing before the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in January 2025, the Mayor repeatedly declined to answer questions from Conservative member Susan Hall about the scale of grooming gangs in London.
When asked how many rape gangs were operating in the capital, repeatedly Khan asked Ms Hall to clarify what she meant.
At a later committee session, he said: "My understanding from speaking to the police, and she will appreciate, I have done on a regular basis, is and I choose my words carefully for the reasons she will understand there are no reported cases and also no indication of the grooming gangs that she is concerned about in London."
His comments prompted accusations of a cover-up, with victims claiming the Mayor was "gaslighting" them.
Resist comment. We've been saying this for sometime: Khan knows there has been islamic sexual abuse of underage girls but he won't admit it. The man is a disgrace.