No words can express brutality of Southport murders but I won’t duck questions about why this act was allowed to happen
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THE Southport murders were a moment of horror for Britain. Truly, no words come close to expressing the evil brutality of what happened there. The murderer’s conviction this week was welcome. But it cannot end the pain and trauma of the families who lost daughters and victims who were injured.
![[Keir Starmer speaking at a Downing Street press conference.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-london-england-teenager-axel-965492087_4cd928.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Nor can it be used as an excuse to duck legitimate questions about how this appalling act was allowed to happen. I want to be crystal clear with Sun readers — I will not let that happen. Fourteen years ago, I was the prosecutor who first spotted failures in grooming cases when I led the Crown Prosecution Service. And I acted.
![[Police at a crime scene.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/police-work-scene-man-arrested-920761210.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
As the country’s lead prosecutor, I ensured that the rape gangs in Rochdale were brought to justice. My approach as Prime Minister will be the same. Whatever shortcomings are holding back Britain’s ability to protect its citizens and its children — I will find them. I will root them out.
![[Mugshot of Axel Rudakubana.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/axel-rudakubana-appears-undated-mugshot-965264285_b61a62.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
And then, no matter who it upsets, I will act. Because my duty now is to make sure the victims of this case are no longer associated with the monster who killed them. But instead to make sure this horrific moment leads to change. That starts with a public inquiry to quickly establish exactly what went wrong. Already, the details are shocking.
![[Girl in white dress standing next to illuminated cross and balloon arch.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/handout-file-photo-alice-da-944890859_f9c0e9.jpg?strip=all&w=723)
Throughout his youth, the murderer consistently showed a grim fascination with extreme violence. Three times he was referred to the Prevent programme, designed to stop people being drawn into terrorism. Once in 2019. Twice in 2021. Yet on all three occasions, he was not referred any further. Why, must be the first question of the inquiry.
![[Photo of Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/handout-file-photo-elsie-dot-944890975_679a56.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
