to be shocked and scandalised that this went on unchecked for so long? [MN edit; contains details of current Rotherham news story, possibly triggering]

[ReputableBiscuit]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-28939089

I feel so sorry for the children involved they have been so badly let down by those who were suppose to protect them. But sadly nothing will change. Nobody ever listens to the child instead they are denied their right to a voice whilst those in charge still collect a sizeable pay packet for doing a shit job towards these victims.
I hate the way time after time in this country missed opportunitys to clamp down on child abusers are not treated as a top priority until the damage has already been done to the victim. Time and time again we hear the words urgent case review needed.
Stop letting children down all in authority and address it as top priority and now let heads roll.
Sharon shoesmith was sacked over baby p and rightly so, she was hounded out so why does the same not apply to Shaun wright when it involved 1400 child victims.

Darkesteyes, sorry, ignoring the poor has something to do with this but I think it is more about ignoring the vulnerable, if they don't speak up then it's ok to let them down. The vulnerable are often poor, disabled, children, victims of grooming, mentally or physically ill, elderly. Our services were created to protect all of them and the erosion of public services is as much to do with lack of financing as it has to do with lack of a sense of public service.

The competetive, performance based nature of modern public service is in conflict with its core purpose and without getting too philosophical, its raison d'etre.

The term more than my job's worth has taken on a whole new meaning.

I've signed the petition, Garlic.

Thanks for the link.

Those wondering "how does it happen?" might be interested in this article:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cruel-world-of-the-paedophiles-children-whose-tales-arent-told-1346886.html

It was written in 1996. And still nobody's listening.

Cheers, Flambeau! Poor woman :(

I've also been following the establishment paedophiles thread.

I am so angry about what happens to our vulnerable children, but at a loss as to how to direct that anger to actually help make change happen.

Social workers maybe, but I am having real difficulty with the idea police did not act for fear of appearing racist. Police racism is commonplace, and blatant, if the experiences of my family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances is anything to go by.

I have to agree with earlier posters: for many, the supposed fear of accusations of racism was probably a cynical 'Oh, our hands are tied' excuse when in reality there wasn't the will to tackle something they didn't see as all that wrong.

Will prosecutions of perpetrators now follow? If it is possible to pursue 'celebraties' for crimes committed many years ago, why not these Rotherham men?
Arguably the activities of, for example, Rolf Harris, are less dreadful than threats to torture and burn victims.

It's more than possible Rolf Harris was engaged in dreadful activities. The CPS tend to pursue charges of sharing images, rather than hideous physical actions on children, as it's hard to secure convictions for the latter (unstable survivors, witness fears, complicit judges etc.) If they managed to find solid witnesses to molestation, as in his case, they'd go as hard as possible on those charges in order to remove a prolific abuser from society.

The Oxford abuse cases were prosecuted in a series of trials, mainly but not wholly based on the evidence of one brave girl. So it is possible to do this, if the authorities want to enough.

Some judges in America have issued sentences of over 100 years for CSA crimes. For once in my life, I wish our legal system had similarly draconian options available to them.

That's it, though - the evidence of one brave girl. You need that girl. Look what's happening to Melanie Shaw ... other witnesses have died in surprising circumstances. (This is discussed at some length on the other threads.)

Charlene Downes was chopped up and served as kebab meat after being exploited by an Asian paedophile gang in Blackpool. You can see why a 14 year old girl, however brave, might therefore be unwilling to testify to abuse, because obviously the police are NOT protecting victims.

Brave girls become brave because dedicated teams identify, support, protect and reassure them. Anyone passively waiting for their one brave girl to turn up miraculously so they can build a case is negligent, lazy and failing children.

It is terrible, Just :(

Wikipedia on Charlene Downes & Paige Chivers:

The jury failed to reach a verdict, and at a re-trial the prosecution withdrew the charges. Both defendants were freed and given compensation for false arrest of around £250,000.

After a critical report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, one of the detectives involved was found guilty of misconduct by Lancashire Police and told to resign, but the Police Arbitration Tribunal overturned the decision.

The Telegraph reported that Mick Gradwell, a former detective superintendent with Lancashire Police, had told another newspaper that the investigation into sexual abuse in Blackpool was being "hampered by political correctness".

Charlene disappeared in 2003, Paige in 2007. The detective was found guilty, and then not guilty, in 2012.

My dad used to control the others by beating me up. It worked. Can you imagine the compliance that can be obtained from children by making them watch the brutal torture, rape and even murder of other kids?

(And participate in it ...)

Garlic I had local news colleagues who covered the case (Charlene). It was so mishandled, there was no way the prosecution could succeed. But the premises concerned had posed multiple problems for the police since the case, including drugs and underage sex. Iyad Albattikhi, who was cleared of Charlene's murder, was jailed recently for beating up his school-girl "girlfriend". He was sentenced to 20 WEEKS!

Fuck me, Down. They had a perfect opportunity to nail him down, and blew it!

Seriously, you don't have to be a "conspiracy nutter" to suppose the judge had his/her reasons for leniency, or that the prosecution had reasons to minimise the offence.

the fact that the defendants got all that money makes it even worse?

Regrettably, I can imagine how hilarious they found it all, alemci.

Tricky some of the perpetrators have already been jailed.

garlic I don't think it even needs a conspiracy. Just generalised incompetence and a feeling that exploited white girls from "chaotic" families are little tramps who deserve everything they get. The only reason that Mr Beanz (used to be FunnyBoyz when Charlene was there) is no longer exploiting young women at night is that a judge took away their late license.