Khan has repeatedly stated there were “no reports” or “indications” that London was blighted by the type of abuse that affected towns like Rochdale and Rotherham.

But in a stunning release on Friday evening, the Met has now revealed it has 9,000 cases to reassess, seen exclusively in a letter from Sir Mark Rowley to Sir Sadiq Khan seen by the Express.

In the letter, Rowley tells Khan he is “responding to questions about child sexual exploitation” adding that “any sexual offending against children is abhorrent but group-based offending, including that characterised as ‘Grooming Gangs’, is particularly insidious. And devasting in its profound impact on the children affected.”

He adds that he knows that “historically and across the UK, the cases of these child victims have not always been recognised and thoroughly investigated. Too often, victims have been disbelieved and even judged at times.”

But he added that “the Met is committed to safeguarding all victims of these terrible offences and wherever possible bringing those responsible to justice.”

The Met Police commissioner said reports flagged by the Express would be among those reinvestigated by the force. The reviews will be completed by April 2026.

The cases under review span the past 15 years since 2010.

After being presented with the findings of our investigation, the Metropolitan Police U-turned on its earlier claims that it had “not seen” Rotherham-style grooming gangs in London.

Speaking to the London Assembly on Thursday last week, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said a “very significant number” of grooming gang investigations were being reopened.

Rowley said there were so many cases that a full review was “going to be many, many, many millions of pounds” and last several years.

Mr Rowley also said the Met was working on a “steady flow” of live multi-offender child sexual exploitation investigations.

His statements came after an Express/MyLondon investigation unearthed six potential grooming gang victim cases in Met Police reports read by Sadiq Khan.

The shocking cases included reports of young girls being raped in hotels by groups of men while others were plied with drugs and having their lives threatened.

When the Express presented the cases to Rochdale grooming gang whistleblower Maggie Oliver, she claimed the Mayor and Met’s repeated denials in the face of such evidence followed “the same pattern” she had seen with Greater Manchester Police’s cover-up of the Rochdale scandal.

Khan has publically denied the existence of grooming gangs in London. He previously said there were “no reports” and “no indication” of organised rape gangs in the capital.

The Mayor of London has been accused of “facilitating a cover up” by denying London has a grooming gangs problem.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Express on Sunday: “It is shameful that the Mayor of London is claiming to have no indication that grooming gangs are operating in London despite personally responding to reports containing evidence of victims abused by grooming gangs in the city. It is clear Sadiq Khan is facilitating a cover up.”

A Met Police spokesperson said in a statement: “Any sexual offending against children is abhorrent but group-based offending, often characterised as ‘grooming gangs’, is particularly insidious and devastating in its profound impact on the children affected.

“The Met takes all allegations or concerns about child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation incredibly seriously and always investigates, following the evidence without fear or favour.

“Since 2022, there have been significant improvements to how the Met identifies and investigates group-based offending, including training for 11,000 frontline officers and the expansion of our child exploitation teams. In the last year we have solved three times more cases of child sexual exploitation – representing 134 more suspects charged.

“As part of the national reinvestigation into group-based child sexual exploitation recommended by Baroness Casey, we are currently undertaking a review of approximately 9,000 cases covering a 15-year period. In line with the IICSA definition, these include many cases of such as intra-familial, peer-on-peer and in institutional settings, along with those which do not fit the common understanding of a ‘grooming gang’.

“Our commitment to safeguarding all victims of such terrible offences and bringing those responsible to justice is absolute.”