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.

Good point. I am a white British woman. I do not get drunk. I do not expose my flesh in public. My daughter is being brought up with care.

How dare ANY MAN regard us a sexual commodity.

Gotabookaboutit...When did I shout about western society/media?

You are confusing me with someone else.

I'm really not interested if you wear a bikini and shag anything that moves.

Is it a 'them' and 'us' situation?

Gottabok, fairly good point, but if telly is offensive, merely switching it off will not do anything to repair the image of Britain that is overtaking our screens, and sadly our culture.

X-Factor anyone?, jeremy Kyle, Trisha etc?

We need to complain. We need to take on the Channels that produce this shite, we need to write to the shops that sell the padded bras and high heels for children, we need to get this stuff OUT of the shops.

We need to take a sensible attitude to the sale of alcohol in this country, we need to look at the classification and sale/access of violent and inappropriate computer games.

We need to do an awful lot about the utter trash on our magazine stands, from the Lads Mags with T&A at young children's eye level to the vapid and inane tripe being splashed about in the Sleb magazines.

TV and mags will pay money to people with morally corrupt stories to sell, kiss and tell, shag and share, it's setting abysmal standards for our youth and damaging the image of women in our country.

We need better role models, better examples, this Celebrity culture, Fame at any cost is the ruin of our youth.

No I do not need people telling me what to do thaks

Oh FFS, Gota, THINK? Please?

I was not telling YOU what to do.

You saying SWITCH OFF the telly was an instruction, pure and simple. One that is a head in the sand approach, changes nothing.

No I'm saying if enough people want to watch Jezzer et al for it to be 'profitable' - so be it.

They will only sell padded Bra's if enough people buy them - don't write to the shop's talk to the people who buy the padded bras/sequinned boob tubes etc.

You cannot impose morals, makes you/society as bad as the religious factitious who think they have the right to tell me how to live.

We need good education and the long term belief that other peoples freedom is as important as our own.

I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it''

'

Ok, misunderstood you then... sorry.

We do have good education, we DO broadly think that other people's freedom is as important as our own.

I do however also think that we are all too often not able to defend OUR freedom to carry on as WE know to be right. We are so often FORCED to compromise so as not to offend other peoples culture.

Other cultures don't do this. Why do we?

I don't now LMHF - It makes me cross 2.

gota' & littlemiss' - i agree with most of what each of you say, some good points. i love the british culture although being the mum of an 8 year old girl i am not crazy with some of the tings that are far different to when i was her age. I dress my dd as an 8 year old and non mini me small adult/teenage style clothes. where i live alot do that, there are alot of designer boutiques (footballers wife type area) and it is normal to see girls younger that dd all dressed up in designer clothes clutching a handbag in mini heels or ugg boots next to mother. to be honest, i only care (as i don't really give a shit HOW they dress their off spring) when it affects my dd as their busines is not mine. she gets from school sometimes (she does not go to a private school) invitations to 'make over' parties etc, i think this stinks. it is her birthday today, my sister bought her a barbie and three separate outfits. in my day dolls ie pippa, cindy barbie etc had every day outfits as well as the evening attire, however you CANNOT find 'normal' day wear for barbie now, my sister gave her what looks like bloody neglige;s ffs. my daughter goes on and on about make up and certainly doesn't get their from me as i don't wear the stuff. my point is that it is being drummed into them by what others do to be beautiful (and later sexual). my big fear is her getting an eating disorder but this is nothign to do with this thread (sorry, getting a bit carried away here).

I agree about Pakistani women learning English - It disempowers them in every way, every medical appointment, every transaction has to be attended by English -speaking husband/son/daughter.

Imagine, you cannot discuss domestic violence, abuse, depression etc

OT Kelway do you knit? there are some nice clothes to knit for Barbie on this site Free knitting patterns for Barbie

Lol only on Mums net

That has to win an award for the most bizarre hijack/digression ever.

Learning English... was it this thread I mentioned that my 'H' went off the deep end at me for 'spying' on him when I was trying to learn his language.

Knowledge is power.... the woman may be prevented from learning the local lingo because it would enable her independence, which to small minded men is too threatening.

Juuule - dont be - for me its one of the joys of Mumsnet and they are bloody good patterns to!

juuule - thanks alot!! i don't knit but your kind idea made me smile :0)

On Newsnight now

Oh bollocks. missed newsnight.
Was it good?

On Woman's Hour now and apparently last week too, including testimony from a victim and interview with Ann Cryer MP who has been campaigning on this issue.

(Afraid I missed Newsnight, did anyone see it?)

littlemiss - yes in some cases but I'm also sure that in many other cases it's overlooked as there are others within that can speak lingo.

I remember many years ago there was a documentary on 'the day in the life of a policeman' or something similar and what really stuck in my mind was this 15 year old kid with parents who didn't speak english and that the police were there to arrest father on the suspicion of rape and the kid had to act as interpreter. I just cried for this poor young boy who was suddenly thrust into the world of adulthood. But also I think if ou are home alone with kids and you have a a big fire and if you don't speak the language how on earth do you call fire brigade etc. OMG - the risks involved.

Jack Straw being torn to shreds on QT at the moment.

The commentators just keep switching the focus as to why the girls fall for such easy blandishments.

The consensus seems to be that it should be resolved within the relevant communities.

I think a lot less pussyfooting around supersition is vital. Too often attempts to address misogyny and abuse by members of one cult or another get shut down by people squealing that their imaginary friend is being insulted.
It's also important to remember that women have every right to wear skimpy clothes, get drunk and have as much sex as they want without being assaulted or abused. Suggesting that women should cover up and remain chaste is not the answer.

Utterly agree with you SGB, once we remove religion and imaginary friends from the discussion then there is a chance.

One way to do this is to say that no religion actively condones rape of anyone, no religion demands that those that follow it abuse children or take advantage of those that are vulnerable.

The focus must be on the behaviour of those that do abuse, and bring them to justice for their crimes.

Examples must be made, and the communities must work together to communicate that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

OK,but is this down to religion or culture - lmh - you were saying that in egypt females of any faith were brought up with very low expectations. Now you're agreeing with someone who thinks it's to do with faith? Any faith. Are all faiths bad.

Is faith (any of them) responsible for all ills against women?

My dh is from southern europe - the religion there is catholicism but I'd say that his shitty attitude is down to his culture as well as his faith. There must me more to do with it over and above religion.