British Pakistanis over-represented in grooming gang figures

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPPC) figures indicated that British Pakistanis were substantially over-represented among suspects..

In 2024, of grooming gang suspects where an ethnicity was recorded, just over half were white British, and around one in eight were British Pakistani - even though one in 40 people in England and Wales were of Pakistani heritage according to the 2021 census.

The NPCC told Newsnight that the figures should be regarded with caution because just under a third of suspects had their ethnicity recorded.

The widespread failure to collect high quality data on abusers, victims and offences was criticised by the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Deputy Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the NPCC’s lead for child protection and abuse investigation, told BBC Newsnight:

“I genuinely think out of 44 [police] forces, very few would say there isn’t a crime of that type being investigated in their [area].”

If you have been affected by any issues in this report, help and support is available on the BBC Action Line.

‘The abuse was almost daily’ - grooming survivors share their stories

Sean Seddon and Yang Tian

Five women from across England who were groomed and abused as children or young adults have told BBC Newsnight about the ongoing impact it has had on their lives. All were targeted by adult men, mainly from a British Asian background, often against the backdrop of chaotic upbringings..

They shared their stories on the same day the government confirmed the publication of a review into grooming gangs has been delayed.

Warning: this story contains details some may find distressing

Kate Elysia - not her real name - was abused by a gang of men of Pakistani origin in the Shropshire town of Telford..

She was first raped when she was 18, shortly after moving out of her family home into a bedsit, and has previously estimated she was attacked by more than 70 men.

“The abuse was almost daily,” > she said, sometimes “multiple men a day”.

“nervousness about race” Kate, now 36, gave evidence to an independent inquiry into gang grooming in Telford, which found that 1,000 girls had been targeted and led to abuse being ignored for generations.

Two of the men who abused Kate - Mohammed Ali Sultan and Shahmeel Khan - were convicted of rape and sexual assault.

“disappointed” Sultan, who was considered a ringleader of the gang, was released in February by the independent parole board - a decision the government said it was by.

Khan was approved for open prison conditions in April.

“I’m very concerned for the public, and I’m very concerned for myself,” > she said”I don’t think that he would be safe to leave prison at all.“.

“battle that I’ll always be in” Zara - not her real name - the first victim of prolific abuser David Saynor to share their story publicly, told BBC Newsnight it left her fighting a .

”[It] started off as that - just promoting, getting picked up in groups and driving around, drinking, dancing,” > she told Newsnight.

Zara was just 12 when she was first groomed by Saynor, a white British man who would give his victims alcohol, drugs and money before attacking them.

“The more you did, the more money he’d offer you…

it became normal to do that,” she said.

Last year, Saynor, 77, was jailed for 24 years after being found guilty of 15 offences against eight young girls - including two counts of rape and five counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming.

Fiona Goddard was abused by a predominantly British Asian grooming gang in Bradford from the age of 14, shortly after being taken into care.

“The abuse started as being more coercive, but then the more you resisted it…

by the end it was violent rapes,” she said.

Fiona recounted how she had told adults about the sexual assaults she had experienced.

“We basically told them that we were being groomed without using the words, but they just never did nothing,” > she explains.

In February 2019, nine men were convicted of 22 offences against Fiona and jailed.

Chantelle was groomed and raped by a gang of British Asian men in Manchester between 2003 and 2007, beginning when she was 11 years old.

“There was males approaching the children’s home, giving us alcohol and drugs and putting us in cars,” > she said.

Chantelle also recounted the time she was reported as a missing child from the children’s home and later found naked in a man’s house by a female officer.

“The female officer who found me never put it on the system.

The report is there that she found me, but none of the abuse that I told her had been logged,” she said.

Her case is being investigated by Greater Manchester PoliceNo one has been charged with an offence.

Jade said she was abused by hundreds of men, primarily from a British Asian background, in the Buckinghamshire area from the age of 14 onwards.

In 2008, she was placed into care and a year later was made subject to a special safeguarding order for children who repeatedly go missing..

But Jade was arrested and convicted of causing or inciting another girl to engage in sexual activity after being found by police at a party with another child.

“It’s just as bad as the abuseIt feels like I’m still being abused by them..

It feels like they’re still controlling my life.”

The Maggie Oliver Foundation - a survivors charity set up by a former police officer who raised concerns about how abusers in Rochdale were investigated - said it is supporting Jade to have her conviction overturned.

The BBC has obtained new police data on the ethnicity of suspects arrested on suspicion of gang grooming offences in England and Wales in 2024..

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPPC) figures indicated that British Pakistanis were substantially over-represented among suspects.

In 2024, of grooming gang suspects where an ethnicity was recorded, just over half were white British, and around one in eight were British Pakistani - even though one in 40 people in England and Wales were of Pakistani heritage according to the 2021 census.

The NPCC told Newsnight that the figures should be regarded with caution because just under a third of suspects had their ethnicity recorded.

📚 Related Resources & Recommended Products

📚 Related Resources & Products

🔗 Our Website: https://wisdaed.com

🛍️ Featured Products:

Featured Product: 10Ft C14 To C13 ¹⁸⁄₃ Sjt Orange

Premium quality professional product with excellent features and reliable performance. Designed for both professional and personal use with industry-standard quality assurance.

Key Features:

• Professional-grade quality and durability
• Easy to use with excellent results
• Suitable for both beginners and professionals
• Backed by quality guarantee

📺 Related Videos: Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more insights 💡 Need Help?: Contact our expert team for personalized solutions 🚀 Stay Updated: Follow us for the latest industry trends and products