Sexual exploitation of teenagers by (mainly) Asian gangs

[edam]

hundreds of young girls are being groomed and prostituted by gangs according to an investigation by The Times]] Only the gangs are predominantly Asian men so the authorities have been very reluctant to either talk about it or act - even now the Home Office 'has no plans' to do any research into the pattern of offending, despite a request by the safeguarding children's board in Derby, backed by Barnardos. Former MP Ann Cryer has been campaigning on this for years but was shouted down with cries of 'racism'.

Afraid Times is now behind a paywall so can't link to the full story but if you have access, it's here down the page under 'UK news'.

Strikes me that the racists here are the officials who are afraid to uphold the law or to talk about this. And that it's yet another example where racism trumps misogyny.

There have been some prosecutions - 56 men convicted in 17 cases. But sounds as if the Home Office doesn't want anyone to find out if the problem is far more widespread.

I am not sure that it is helpful to discuss crimes in terms of the ethnicity of the offenders. For instance - burglary is predominantly committed by white offenders, but it is not discussed in those terms.

The majority of young Asian men are law-abiding and not involved in this activity, so I can understand the reluctance to highlight the racial aspect of this crime. I think the fact that the BNP were trying to use this as tool to promote racism also has something to do with that.

As for the fact that it is not being investigated, than I am afraid that is simply not true.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying?

Are you saying that there are gangs of men grooming teenage girls for prostitution?

Are you then saying that the majority of the men are asian?

Are you further saying that 'because' they are asian, they are not being prosecuted?

'And that it's yet another example where racism trumps misogyny'

So what are the other examples?

niggle - the problem is that there is a pattern of offending here. Fear of racism means the victims are being left to suffer and more teenagers are being put at risk.

Surely it IS racist to say 'golly, we can't possibly tackle criminal gangs if their members happen to be Asian'. All criminals should be brought to book, no matter what their ethnicity.

And what about sexism? You have male gangs preying on female children. Should we ignore that because racism is somehow more important than sexism?

'Surely it IS racist to say 'golly, we can't possibly tackle criminal gangs if their members happen to be Asian'. All criminals should be brought to book, no matter what their ethnicity'

I absolutely agree, but being Asian doesn't make you a criminal. You need hard evidence. You also can't go about investigating things for the sake of it. That is also racist and a waste of public resources.

Starting, in answer to your questions, yes yes and yes. So frustrating that the Times is behind a paywall so you can't see the full details.

Martin Narey of Barnardos has said: 'This is remarkably sensitive but it's not something we are denying. The significant over-representation of men from ethnic minority groups, generally referred to as Asian, in this type of offending needs to be looked at.' Keith Vaz MP said the Serious Organised Crime Agency should lead an inquiry into the on-street grooming of girls. 'We need to be as tough on child trafficking of British girls as we are on those trafficked from abroad.'

There have been convictions in 17 court cases of 56 men across the Midlands and North of England.

There was a Dispatches documentary on this a few years ago.

The programme alleged the girls are vulnerable and 'groomed'by young Asian men, passed around and used as prostitutes.

It suggested that investigations were hampered because of fear of being perceived as racist.

Of course the BNP will capitalise on this sort of story

OK this is the Mail but it's the Times that has been leading the investigation

I think it's the ethnicity part which makes the story interesting - but an absolute minefield too.I can understand why the police are finding this a tricky one to tackle.

That said, they set up Trident to investigate organised gun crime among London's black community so surely something similar would be in order?

This is terrible. I've been shocked by this story. Both the disregard for these young girls, and the girls gullibility (?) in believing these men were in love with them.
Definitely needs further investigation.

I was going to post what smallwhitecat posted... this has been going on for years and years in the Bradford and Keighley area of Yorkshire (where I hail from). The girls are guillable because they are so young - 12 13 in some cases.

This has been going on for a really long time and whilst i think it is especially bad up north i think it happens across the country and needs dealing with. I dont really have an answer for how though, so i can see it would be really hard for the police.

I think it stems from men of ethnic minority communities (which are quite close knit) being to scared to dare to act like this with girls from their own community as there would be serious reprocussions for them. So they look for vulnerable girls outside their own community, who arent someone they may know/fear to cross paths with sister/cousin/relative.

This then causes them to stop seeing the girls as people it alienates them, dehumanises them so they can do what they do. Because they knows its wrong, but they can justify it to themselves and each other as being ok, as the girls are just 'slags/sluts/whores'

I lived just off Lumb Lane in Bradford the red light district the Band of Gold was about). I saw Asian men organising young prostitutes regularly.

It happened there. If it is common elsewhere as well, then of course it should be investigated as a phenomenon and the motives examined. How ridiculous to cover it up for fear of looking racist or provoking the BNP.

Pimping isn't just the remit of Asian men though, and ALL people who exploit young women (and men) this way should be brought to the law, regardless of who they are or their ethnic origin.

I think the point is that the exploitation seems to have been allowed to continue because the perpetrators are of Asian origin.

It is fear of any perception of racism trumping misogyny.

Of course ALL people who exploit young women should be brought to the law. I haven't seen any comments on here suggesting otherwise.

Why is it that as soon as someone says 'Asian' someone else screams 'racist'? I can't believe how over-sensitive some posters are on here. The facts speak for themselves. How is it in any way helpful to react like this to a really appalling crime perpetrated by (mainly) Asian men?

This is a big problem in big towns and cities up and down the country.

I have worked with the victims - who are oftne form troubled backgrounds or in care.
They relish the attention that they get from their new 'boyfriend' - he might buy her a mobile, fags, alcohol. Then when she has fallen for him totally - passes her around his friends.
It is difficult to talk about without being accused of racism.

I think what needs to be addressed is the way some Muslim men view women, ie Muslim women are pure and good/ white women are trash, am sure I will get flamed for saying that, but until these issues can be properly discussed then this abuse will continue.

The racists are the Asian men deliberately targetting white girls.

sixtyfoot - are the victims able to make a decent recovery? I can't imagine how harrowing an experience it must be especially as they are so young.

As someone said, West Yorks police got the Dispatches documentary pulled. Disgraceful. Hiding the issue doesn't solve anything. And even now some action has been taken, the Home Office is still refusing to carry out any research to show how widespread the problem is.

Not really Edam their lives didn't amount to much before and don't improve much after.