Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the journalist who exposed the child sexual exploitation scandal that led to a major public inquiry, after his death at the age of 60.
The investigation by Andrew Norfolk, a reporter for the Times, led to findings that 1,400 children were abused over a 16-year period. It earned him journalism’s most prestigious awards and a reputation as a dedicated reporter pursuing neglected issues.
The prime minister, who was director of public prosecutions when Norfolk revealed the scandals, said that the reporter had possessed a “passion for supporting the victims” of the scandal’s perpetrators.
“I am deeply sorry to hear of Andrew’s death,” Starmer said. “He wasn’t just an incredibly talented reporter, at the Times and elsewhere, he was driven by the desire to call our attention to injustice and protect the most vulnerable.
“I was privileged enough to meet Andrew first-hand when I was director of public prosecutions after he broke the news of the grooming gangs scandal. He was absolutely integral to making sure we could change the rules to increase convictions of the vile perpetrators.
“My thoughts are with Andrew’s family, loved ones and friends. I hope their memories of him and the knowledge of the difference he made to people’s lives are a comfort to them at this time.”
Norfolk’s reporting initially focused on Rotherham, and his first major investigation was published in January 2011. He said he identified a pattern of gangs, predominantly of Asian men, exploiting white girls across parts of England, but came up against a “conspiracy of silence” from police and councils.
His investigations won him the Paul Foot and Orwell prizes for journalism. Norfolk had only recently retired and the Times said he died after collapsing at a routine medical appointment.
