Grooming Gangs; not just a historical problem

For years many news articles, tv dramatisations and documentaries have highlighted the shocking reality of Grooming Gangs in the UK.  The infamous Rochdale and Rotherham scandals have been discussed at length.  

Independent inquiries have been set up and reports published showing the multiple failings of the Police and Local Authorities and recently the Government has announced a new National level rapid audit of grooming gangs led by Dame Louise Casey. 

Grooming isn’t just a historical problem though, despite such media attention it has gained over the last 20 years with some high profile criminal trials, this is still very much a current problem.  Police forces and Local Authorities have after decades of failings acknowledged that more could and should have been done and have implemented changes, but are these enough to tackle this problem.

Anna Hall’s heartbreaking new documentary which aired yesterday on Channel 4 ‘Groomed: A National Scandal’ dealt with some real life stories, some of which were from the last decade some however were very recent, showing that this is still an issue today. Charities and support organisations are still being contacted by young girls who are being groomed and sexually exploited and known sexual predators are still not been brought to justice.

Jess Philips MP quoted earlier this month in her speech in the House of Commons that; 

“Best estimates suggest that 500,000 children are sexually abused every year. Analysis by the police found that there were 115,000 recorded cases of child sexual abuse in 2023, 4228 group-based offences identified by the CSE Taskforce, of which 1125 were family abuse, and 717 were sexual exploitation cases. In a growing number of recorded cases the perpetrators themselves are under 18.”   

“…in its first year of operation up to March 2024, the Grooming Gangs Taskforce contributed to 550 arrests across the country. I can tell the House that – in the last 9 months of 2024 – the Taskforce contributed to 597 arrests, in other words it surpassed in that 9 month period what it has achieved in its first full year of its operation. “

Whilst it is clear steps are being taken by the Police and Local Authorities across the county to ensure the failings of the last few decades are never repeated, lessons are not being learnt quick enough and opportunities to protect the very people who need protecting the most, vulnerable children often in care are being missed and/or ignored.