[7] A former Detective Constable who was investigating the grooming gangs, Margaret Oliver, resigned in 2012 in disgust of the handling of the cases by the police force and spoke out as a whistleblower to inform the public. The networks of men come from different backgrounds: in the North and Midlands many have been British Asians; in Devon it was white men; in Bath and Bristol, Afro-Caribbeans; in London, all ethnic mixes, whites, Iraqis, Kurds, Afghans, Somalis". [2][3][4] The men were British Pakistanis, which led to discussion on whether the failure to investigate them was linked to the authorities' fear of being accused of racial prejudice. Pay Range: $54.58 - $88.09. The BBC drama Three Girls was based on the Rochdale child sexual abuse scandal. Read about our approach to external linking. In 2017, the BBC aired the drama "Three Girls" which featured the story of . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The patchy training of frontline staff was to blame for the way childrens social care responded to the victims, the Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board (RBSCB) said in its review into child sexual exploitation after the trial. She walked out, refusing to go along with this decision, and was forbidden from speaking to Amber. The review recommended the Greater Manchester Police establish a monitoring system and commit to maintaining a child sexual exploitation team. "I got picked up so many times by the police and it was always when I was out with adult men," she says. The abuse continued for months, until one evening she was arrested by police for smashing the counter at a takeaway where some of the men met the girls. The trial of nine of the grooming gang was pending, and in the meantime, despite never having been informed, arrested or cautioned, Amber was added to the indictment by the CPS as a co-conspirator. It was not until summer 2011 that Nazir Afzal, the new regional head of the CPS, reversed the decision not to prosecute. "That can't make sense.". Why the Rochdale 'grooming trial' wasn't about race Focusing on the ethnicity of the men convicted of child sex offences in Rochdale detracts from the real issue: this was ultimately about. I didnt want other people to feel how I felt. Her courage and Olivers support resulted in a database of abusers whom she identified by names, car registrations, telephone numbers and addresses. The arrests are in relation to one of the five girls who gave evidence at Liverpool Crown Court in the case of a child sex grooming ring in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. [53], On 13 March 2015, Greater Manchester Police apologised for its failure to investigate child sexual exploitation allegations more thoroughly between 2008 and 2010. They ripped away all my dignity". Address: CA Torrance 4101 Torrance Blvd. [8], Some gang members told the court the girls were willing participants and happy having sex with the men. Adil Khan was sentenced to eight years for the same offences. [16], The trial concluded in May 2012 with the nine convictions. Nine men were convicted of sex trafficking and other offences including rape, trafficking girls for sex and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child in May 2012. Another five-year sentence was given to Abdul Qayyum for conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children, while Hamid Safi received four years for trafficking for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children. Numerous opportunities to intervene were missed and only two girls received child protection planning, the report said. Updated 10:45, 3 JUL 2017. It was like a casual, Oh, bring your friends. She was a vulnerable child, being sexually abused, controlled and in fear. The women, who cannot be named for. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. There were fears that press involvement would frighten the girls away. As a responsible publication the M.E.Ns editors respected this request from senior detectives at GMP and eventually our story was published a few months later. At best this was distracting for leaders and influenced the areas that resources were focused on". [36], In a BBC documentary investigating grooming young girls for sex by some Pakistani men, Imam Irfan Chishti from the Rochdale Council of Mosques deplored the practice, saying it was "very shocking to see fellow British Muslims brought to court for this kind of horrific offence. [44], One study suggested that the British media's portrayal of South Asian men as perpetrators of sexual violence against white victims is an example of a moral panic. The gang of nine men received jail sentences of between four and 19 years from a judge who said they treated their victims as though they were worthless and beyond any respect. Three Girls: Maggie Oliver says known paedophiles are still abusing girls in Rochdale and authorities are 'more interested in covering up mistakes', according to one officer who was involved. She plans to become a social worker, partly due to the ordeal she suffered while still a vulnerable young girl. Furious, Maggie vowed never to be part of such an investigation in future. Last Tuesday Amber, with two other victims of the Rochdale grooming gang, finally received an apology delivered personally by Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police (GMP). Nine men have been convicted of sexually exploiting young girls in Greater Manchester. Speaking at the conclusion of a 10-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the woman, who cannot be identified, said she was forced to have sex with up to five different men in a day, at least four times a week. While this is true, Amber believes that she was used as a scapegoat. Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk (Labour) said agencies had actively ignored the abuse and that "social services believed these girls were making lifestyle choices". [2], The victims, vulnerable teenagers from deprived, dysfunctional backgrounds, were targeted in "honeypot locations" where young people congregated, such as takeaway food shops. In October 2010 the M.E.N. "I know they believed me, they said to me at the end that something should have been done.". You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. But she changed her mind when Operation Span came knocking and she was given cast iron assurances the victims would be supported. My name has been dragged through the mud. Read about our approach to external linking. Rochdale grooming case: what really happened? Mohammed Amin received a five-year sentence for sexual assault and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children. Tellingly, he added: I believe that one of the factors that led to that was that they were not of your community or religion. While GMP has finally settled the claim, which includes the personal apology from the chief constable, the DPP has so far resisted. Writing in The Guardian, Cockbain and Tufail wrote of the report that "The two-year study by the Home Office makes very clear that there are no grounds for asserting that Muslim or Pakistani-heritage men are disproportionately engaged in such crimes, and, citing our research, it confirmed the unreliability of the Quilliam claim". 10:45, 3 JUL 2017. Who were the men in the Rochdale grooming gang and what happened to them? "What they did to me was evil, they ripped away my dignity, my self-esteem," she said. A chance to stop the gang was missed in 2008 and both the police and the CPS were forced to apologise for their failings. Police said the victims were from chaotic, council estate backgrounds and as many as 50 girls could have been victims of the gang. '", 'We should have listened to he broken teenagers'. [32], Hilary Willmer, representing a Leeds-based support group for parents of sexually exploited girls, the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping (Crop), was quoted as saying "The vast majority [of] perpetrators are Pakistani Asians",[35] with sources inside Crop claiming a percentage as high as 80 per cent although, The Independent said that "Kurdish, Romanian and Albanian gangs were also involved". The convictions she received as a teen continue to hold her back to this day. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, How fake copyright complaints are muzzling journalists, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. He shouted in court, "Where are the white people? This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Without Ambers initial evidence there might never have been a trial at all. It took police 11 months to compile a file of evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after interviewing the young victim from the takeaway on four separate occasions. What the police and CPS did to me was worse than the abuse The apology will be a kind of a weight lifted from me. But the nightmare will never really be over. "[32], The former head of Barnardo's, Martin Narey, said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "For this particular type of crime, the street grooming of teenage girls in northern towns there is very troubling evidence that Asians are overwhelmingly represented in the prosecutions for such offences. And then, in July 2009, an experienced CPS lawyer ruled the victim was not credible and decided that the two men who raped her should be released without charge. I think it was because they were afraid of being called racist. Nine men between 24 and 38 years old were arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child. Of the 56 offenders convicted since 1997 for crimes relating to on-street grooming of girls aged 11 to 16, three were white, 53 were Asian of which 50 were Muslim, and most were from the British Pakistani community. Some studies suggest an overrepresentation of black and Asian offenders relative to the demographics of national populations. Writing for HuffPost UK, chief executive Javed Khan of childrens charity Barnardos described Three Girls as absolutely vital viewing.. There was a complete lack of understanding of the world in which they existed. [45] In particular they pointed out that the inquiry by the Office of the Children's Commissioner[33] found that, while a majority of victims were white and a majority of perpetrators were men of South Asian descent, there were many cases where "perpetrators and their victims were ethnically diverse. May stated the revocations were "conducive to the public good". The dramatisation tells the story of three children who were victims in the scandal and stars Maxine Peake as sexual health worker Sara, who recorded and reported cases of child abuse for years. She not only suffered at the time [of the abuse] but she continues to suffer because of the criminal records. It resulted in the conviction of nine men for offences including rape and human. 'We are not going to stop' - Mikel Arteta sends Man City title message after Arsenal win, Manchester City now trail Arsenal by five points in the Premier League table after the Gunners beat Everton 4-0 on Wednesday night, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp learns Real Madrid lesson ahead of Manchester United clash, Liverpool beat Wolves in the Premier League on Wednesday and face Man United this weekend, West Ham manager David Moyes delivers bullish verdict on FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. A much bigger case had been built but, importantly, he simply believed his star witness. You have only got my kind here. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. "[The police] messed up, not me. The grooming case seemed ripe for exploitation: all the girls were white, all the accused were Asian Muslim men, and they had displayed a searing contempt for their victims. One night in 2006, when she was just 14, a man became aggressive after she refused to have sex with him. Another night - this time in 2007 - Daisy says she was burnt with a heated metal spoon as punishment for refusing to have sex with a man at a house party. He said: We now know that Rochdale was not an isolated case. Sir Peter Fahy said some girls 'don't want to make a complaint because that means they go into the criminal justice system'. He said the investigation was looking at cases in Rochdale dating back to 2003. In this case the judge did indicate his belief that the Rochdale gang had deliberately sought victims outside their own community. History was repeating itself, said Maggie. FA Cup quarter-final draw in full as Manchester United and Man City discover opponents, Four Premier League sides remain in the competition, Manchester United vs West Ham LIVE highlights and reaction from FA Cup as Garnacho scores. The ID parades were particularly gruelling for Amber, who did 12 in one day alone, correctly identifying 10 of her abusers. [13], As a result of the CPS dropping the case, the police halted their investigation, which was resumed when a second girl made complaints of a similar nature in December 2009. Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain of Greater Manchester Police told the BBC he thought while cases should be reviewed on an individual basis, now was the time for a wider, national debate in cases where young people may have been criminalised as a result of exploitation. The abuse of minor female children that occurred in 2008 and 2009 centred around two takeaways in Heywood near Rochdale. The three-part series tells the story of the victims of an infamous child grooming and sex trafficking scandal in Rochdale, and continues on Wednesday night. ", "Lesley Sharp: 'What happened to the girls in Rochdale is never far from my mind', "British-Pakistani researchers say grooming gangs are 84% Asian", Failing victims, fuelling hate: challenging the harms of the 'Muslim grooming gangs' narrative. She says they got into a fight and he hit her in the face. It is committed by abusers from all walks of life, ethnicities, cultures and classes and it robs children of their childhoods and tears families apart. Id been used. [9] The men were aged between 24-59 and all knew each other. I didnt know what that meant. She was held in custody for hours before being released on bail. "Our understanding [of these crimes] at the time wasn't as developed and our practice wasn't as improved as it is today. Following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, nine men were convicted in May 2012. Job Description. Speaking at the conclusion of a 10-week trial at Liverpool Crown. Something went wrong, please try again later. Must demonstrate independence and competence in the duties on a variety of procedures. [32] The inquiry issued its final report in November 2013. [1] One 13-year-old victim recounted that, after being forced to have sex in exchange for vodka, her abuser immediately raped her again and gave her 40 to not say anything about the incident. [17] Abdul Aziz, a married father of three, took over from Shabir Ahmed as the main trafficker and was paid by various men to supply underage girls for sex. Read about our approach to external linking. "I'm nearly 30 years old, this started when I was 12," she says. It was then she told police for the first time what was going on. Torrance, CA. There were therefore many still walking free that had evaded detection. Some of the men involved were arrested, tried and found guilty. Behind the scenes, however, there was consternation. The testimony of one of the five victims of the Rochdale grooming ring revealed the depth of the exploitation she suffered. In 2014 an inquiry led by MP Ann Coffey suggested sexual exploitation of children had become normal on some streets and estates in Greater Manchester. [47] However this report was "fiercely" criticised for its unscientific nature and poor methodology by child sexual exploitation experts Ella Cockbain and Waqas Tufail, in their paper "Failing Victims, Fuelling Hate: Challenging the Harms of the 'Muslim grooming gangs' Narrative" which was published in January 2020. [1][2], The oldest person to be convicted, Shabir Ahmed,[16] was for a while the main trafficker of the victims. The skinny 15-year-old girl was arrested and taken to the police station but then spent six hours pouring her heart out about precisely why she had acted in such an antisocial manner. "I felt let down," she said. They dont give a fuck when youre not from a wealthy background.. etween 2008 and 2010, a child abuse ring that came to be known as part of the grooming gang phenomenon operated in Rochdale. said in its review into child sexual exploitation after the trial. Ten months after her case had been dropped, police decided to revisit the case after more complaints emerged. "[36] Narey rejected the idea that such gangs were specifically targeting white girls, but suggested vulnerable girls on the street were more likely to be white since Asian girls were subjected to strict parenting and were more likely to be kept off the streets. Police began to investigate child grooming in Rochdale almost by accident. In relation to historical failures, he apologised to Daisy. The abuse then continued, with a number of men who she had not seen before joining in. BBC Ones new drama Three Girls launched on Tuesday to five million viewers. [17], Victims were physically assaulted and raped by as many as five men at a time,[1] or obliged to have sex with "several men in a day, several times a week". The review recommended a "speedy resolution" to leadership failures. By then police were investigating allegations from another girl about on-street grooming in Heywood. It was only when she met Oliver in early 2012 that things started to change. "You will be supported and you will be heard.". I gave hours of interviews, reliving all the abuse. The men who abused her have never been prosecuted. After a while, the girl was being driven to different houses or flats where there would be other men waiting. The first victim, who was 15 when the abuse began, told the police what had been happening to her in August 2008. In a disused hotel ballroom just off the M60 in Greater Manchester, she describes to us how the authorities knew she was at risk, but failed to stop the abuse. Stephen Watson says force had lacked professional curiosity when it came to young victims of grooming gangs 19 Apr 2022 Rochdale victim: 'I was groomed at 14, then the courts came for my. The report added that professionals repeatedly said the victims had it 'in their power' to stop the abuse 'suggesting this was something they could choose not to do'. [33] After members of the Rochdale gang were sentenced, the UK's Department for Education announced new funding for a specialist foster care scheme to protect vulnerable children in residential care, where some victims had been. "[40], Hindu and Sikh groups have objected to media use of the "Asian" description saying that the culprits were "almost always of Pakistani origin" and "Muslim". Running though them is repeated mentions of the fact that many in authority believed that the girls had brought the abuse on themselves. Go into the criminal records a social worker, rochdale grooming case due to the demographics of populations! 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Mohammed Amin received a five-year sentence for sexual assault and conspiracy to in!, controlled and in fear never been prosecuted and both rochdale grooming case police ] messed up, not me time. Story of and Olivers support resulted in a database of abusers whom she by! Resolution '' to leadership failures adil Khan was sentenced to eight years for same! To eight years for the first time what was going on of sites! For Amber, who did 12 in one day alone, correctly identifying 10 of abusers! Decision, and was forbidden from speaking to Amber abuse began, told police... Duties on a variety of procedures what happened to them were the men were convicted May. Court the girls were willing participants and happy having sex with him only when she was just 14 a. Which featured the story of the report said story of conducive to public!
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rochdale grooming case