Children in the UK continue to be sexually abused on a “shocking” scale by groups of pedophiles called “grooming gangs”, according to a February 11 investigative report by GB News.
“Grooming gangs” in Britain are groups of pedophiles who force minors into long-term sexual relationships or other illegal activities, first through “grooming” and later through blackmail and violence. Perpetrators first try to befriend and form an emotional bond with the child, and sometimes with the family, to lower inhibitions. In addition, by bribing a child with gifts, and children are mainly selected from disadvantaged families, they become involved in various illegal activities, such as human trafficking, child prostitution, child sex trafficking, or the production of child pornography.
In 2012, a major scandal occurred in Great Britain involving the exposure of grooming, sexual abuse and trafficking of girls in the city of Rochdale in Greater Manchester in England. As a result, nine people were convicted of crimes including rape and human trafficking against girls, whose average age was 13 years. The crimes were committed between 2005 and 2008. Men between the ages of 24 and 59 preyed on teenage girls and sold them alcohol and drugs in the Heywood section of Rochdale.
According to the channel’s investigation, the problem still exists. Grooming gangs in the UK still have many victims. Data from GB News showed that “Thousands of historical and contemporary victims have turned to the charity, which has been providing support to victims since 2020.”
It is reported that in 2022 alone, at least 400 victims approached the Maggie Oliver Foundation (TMOF) who were denied assistance by police in one way or another.
The channel has obtained an exclusive copy of the annual report of the Maggie Oliver Foundation (TMOF), which states that the foundation is currently working on more than 50 cases of child sexual exploitation.
Since 2020, the charity has also supported over 1,000 victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The Foundation provided them with legal protection and emotional support services.
Approximately 55% of all cases handled by the foundation in the last three years involved some form of sexual exploitation, with an average age of onset of abuse of just 12 years.
The foundation, founded by Maggie Oliver, the former Greater Manchester police officer who uncovered the Rochdale “grooming gang” scandal, found that the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by organized gangs and networks is becoming increasingly in the childhood of the victims and continues into adulthood.
In addition, cases of this type of violence are becoming more serious and the coercive methods used by the perpetrators become more threatening as they use modern surveillance techniques.
The Maggie Oliver Foundation said the perpetrators regularly contacted, threatened and exploited their victims through Snapchat and other apps that hide online communication.
TMOF told the channel that “A decade after Oliver spoke out about the Rochdale case, girls who report such crimes are still being denounced by some police officers across the country as those who chose this lifestyle.”
Source: Rossa Primavera
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