Sex abuse gangs in Black Country: ‘Significant similarities’ to Rotherham scandal, say police
Children in the Black Country are being sexually exploited, with gangs similar to those in Rotherham operating in the West Midlands, says a police report.
The heavily-redacted findings reveal there are ‘significant similarities’ between child sex abuse here and the scandal in Yorkshire.
The findings are revealed in a West Midlands Police report entitled Child Sexual Exploitation, which was produced in October last year but has only now been made public.
It is marked as ‘restricted’ and large sections of information have been redacted – blacked out.
In Wolverhampton, the city council’s processes are criticised and the report states: “Inference: There are significant numbers of child sex exploitation victims that are not identified by the Wolverhampton local authority.”
A map showing two ‘clusters’ where there have been ‘high concentrations’ of ‘referrals’ in the city is among the items to have been covered up. Certain postcodes and a list of areas in Wolverhampton have also been redacted.
None of the councils in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley have escaped criticism in the report, which was compiled in October last year but has only now been made available to the public.
Other hotspots in the region are Lye, Brierley Hill, Tipton, Smethwick and Rowley Regis in Sandwell, Willenhall and Walsall town centre.
But council bosses don’t know how many children are being abused and some of the information needed to identify abuse is ‘non-existent’.
All the Black Country councils have come under fire for not sharing enough information about potential victims.
The 125-page report was released by West Midlands Police after a Freedom of Information request. But lots of details remain redacted. It reveals that between January and June last year, 210 children were identified by councils as having been ‘sexually exploited or at risk of sexual exploitation’. But a lack of processes to identify potential victims means there could be many more slipping through the net.
Police said it was ‘difficult’ to say how many were being abused, or at risk of being abused. The report compares the situation to Rotherham, where at least 1,400 youngsters were sexually exploited by gangs between 1997 and 2013. It states: “An assessment of all child sex exploitation profiles produced by West Midlands Police since 2010 identifies a consistent profile in relation to victims, locations and offenders. There are significant similarities to the Rotherham victim/offender and location profiles. It remains difficult to quantify how many child abuse crimes or incidents have actually occurred within the West Midlands.”
Offenders are said to be typically Asian, of Pakistani origin, aged 17 to 40. Most victims are white females aged 13 to 16.
Many are known for going missing. The report adds: “Targeting of victims takes place mainly at children’s homes and schools. Offending typically takes place in private houses or hotels often under the guise of ‘house’ parties. Offences also take place in parks.”
At the time of the report, there was ‘no specific process’ for identifying child sexual exploitation in Wolverhampton. Bosses insist this has now been rectified. Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “The way to tackle hidden crimes is to bring them into the open. I am pleased this information is in the public domain.”
Subscribe to our NewsletterComments for: "Sex abuse gangs in Black Country: ‘Significant similarities’ to Rotherham scandal, say police"
charlie.bear.5836
The authorities know which section of society the offenders are from, which explains why it has been allowed to continue for so long.
Thomas
Oh dear .... to even think such a thing means that without doubt, you must be a racist. In fact if you are in any way English and dare to have an opinion that may challenge the behaviour of certain sections of society then you are indeed a racist. The fact that they have pointed out that there are clear similarities with the Rotherham case strongly suggests that this does refer to certain sections of society, but we must not say so, or we are racist. In fact we must let them do whatever they want, say what they want, and behave how they want. Our place is to turn a blind eye in order to never be accused of being racist.
NOSNP
And it is rife in areas where families do not care who their child is mixing with, including relatives, boyfriends, and 'uncles'
Captain Freedom
Irrespective of the race, creed and colour of the perpetrator they should be prosecuted.
We also need to look into the people at the council and police who have known about this but have let it continue for years and bring these people to book as well.
Cyril
How to stamp it out ? EASY. Have the law changed so that paedophiles, once proven guilty, are castrated. No ifs, no buts. They ruin childrens' lives, let's ruin theirs.
PJW Holland
Castration has no effect. That is an urban myth.
The real solution is better parental supervision and that might solve a fair number of other issues too.
Blue Boy
A better solution would be a long prison sentence with no segregation, let them spend time being frightened, very, very frightened.
NOSNP
What society do you live in ? parental control?? Many of these children are in 'care' or left 'care'.
No parents only care!
Some parents do not care either what or where theri offsprings are............ or are doing.
When there was a society you knew that if you did something you should not then someone would report it.
Cyril
PJW. If you knew you would be a soprano for doing unspeakable things to children, isn't it possible you MIGHT think twice before you did it ? Would having it done with a rusty razor blade convince you ? I cannot look for excuses for paedophiles. They don't deserve any.
PJW Holland
I have not offered any excuse for pederasts. However a crime cannot be perpetrated unless there is an opportunity. Better supervised children and young adults reduces/eliminates the opportunity for the crime to occur.
I have been advised the removal of the glands you refer to has no effect on sexual desire or indeed of potency. The removal simply renders the individual infertile.
NOSNP
No, the solution is really related to the problem that we kick children out of care and put them into places where this sort of activity or worse thrives.
Every council does the same thing, red, blue, yellow or purple.
The system needs changing such that we protect children but of course there is no money Mr Cameron.
Ultimate responsibility is with the Government and the existing system.
Blue Boy
What!!! the responsibility lies with the Government???? these paedophiles pray on the vulnerable and the weak it is not only children in care they inflict their dirty depraved behaviour on.
You ask what society I live in, unfortunately I live in the real world where you have to lock everything up, where you can't put anything down without it being stolen, where we have to be on our guard because of scammers and con-men, where we can't let our children play out without constantly worrying about them, where people carry guns, where I can buy hard drugs easier than parsley sauce. I can go on, this world is a rotten place without soft lefties allowing sex offenders to get away with suspended sentences and gangs sexually exploiting our children going unpunished in case we upset them.
NOSNP
Nice rant, it is good to get your concerns off your chest but why not contact the Government It should help.
What is a soft lefty? A punch?
name calling and incorrect suggestions abound.
get a life
Blue Boy
I did speak to the government via the website and my local MP - waste of time.
Name calling and incorrect suggestions???
Hatherton Beerwolf
If found guilty all the judge has to do is set them free, give them a facial tattoo and make them leave by the front door with no protection.
They'll know what vulnerable means when families are waiting outside with cans of petrol screaming 'burn him, burn him'.
Either that or drop em in a women's prison for a couple of days.....it's made Baby P's scumbag excuse of a mother think twice.
In fact forget all that,just kill em and be done with it. I'll do it, I'd even pay the courts for the pleasure.
Walsall Citizen
Sounds like you're advocating vigilantism. I'm surprised your post hasn't been removed.
PJW Holland
The difference between this scandal and Rotherham is that this scandal has been going on and being covered up since the 1960s.
MrW
The problem is that this is entrenched within the culture of that certain section of our society. They see young white girls as second class citizens and easy prey with no respect. The only way to nip this in the bud is to educate at primary school level that it is wrong to exploit others for personal gratification no matter the colour of their skin.
Pro-action is much more effective than reaction.
NOSNP
And it is predominantly white people online doing the same thinga as was reported yesterday on BBC News
nuff said, it is a society thing........
MrW
It is unacceptable for any area of society to conduct in this awful and unlawful practice.
You can't defend anyone or deflect the issue of the story onto others, as you tend to do, all are as guilty as the others.
The story here is about the gangs of a certain section of society, that have significant similarities as Rotherham and Telford, where we as a 'society' dare not pass comment as we would be seen as racist or bigots.
This has to stop, it's time we took responsibility as a society to say it as it is, and hey! If it upsets a certain section so be it.
NOSNP
I was contributing data for people to consider, you obviously did not :)
pity.
MrW
So was I....... ;o)
Ditto.
Neswulf
You're ignoring the racial element to this. This is, in the majority of cases, child rape and abuse selected by race.
"Offenders are said to be typically Asian, of Pakistani origin, aged 17 to 40. Most victims are white females aged 13 to 16"
All of this behaviour - committed by people of all ethnicities is evil and sick. But there is a countrywide epidemic of racist child rape where the perpetrators are typically Pakistani and the victims white (presuming English as this is happening in England). This should not be talked down but tackled head on without fear of 'offending' - the offence has already been committed and all of society should deal with the truth.
TheMediaCrell
That's not surprising...that it came from the BBC.
A Lone Voice
Scandalous but not unexpected given the ethnic make up of the Black Country.
Presumably there are lots of other heavily redacted and private reports about forced marriages, honour killings, abductions and female genital mutilation (to name but a few) waiting in the wings.......
I feel so sorry for the girls taken advantage of by these dispicable men and annoyed that so little action appears to have been taken against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.
Amazing how effective the police have been in catching mainly white celebrity abusers since the Saville scandal broke and abuse on our own doorstep seems to have been swept under the carpet to avoid upsetting a certain section of the community.
Blue Boy
I have posted similar sentiments on the other report. The likes of Jim Davidson were very publically named and shamed before no further action was taken but these scum paedophiles seem somehow "protected" and the only reason I can come to is that if the truth about how many Asians are involved with this type of crime we would all vote far right out of sheer anger.
NOSNP
You are a loner. Mix in real facts and get educated.
Read my revelation that it is perpetrated by mainly white people ONLINE!!!!!!!!
So both groups, cultures, races, call it what you will are involved.
It is not a racial problem. Only when you are selective with information does it become racist.
NOSNP
Are you saying their are black celebrities? Are you saying their are black celebrities from the 1970s 80s who did this?
Oh dear, please inform the police immediately and have them arrested.
You have such insight it makes me wonder.......
Neswulf
Nobody is saying that as far as I can see NOSNP. Nobody is denying that there are problems all over - '60s & '70s BBC presenters, online predators. Whites or otherwise.
They are, however, acknowledging the racial basis of this particular report - there is a huge problem in England at present where predominantly Pakistani men are selecting vulnerable white (see English) children for ritualistic rape and abuse. No mincing of words.
Bugsy
Hope not Hate will be outraged by one part of this article.
"It is marked as ‘restricted’ and large sections of information have been redacted – blacked out."
Not the crimes carried out by these evil gangs, but they used the word "blacked out". Must be racist. There are Labour activists that still insist that Asian grooming gangs are a right wing myth. They must change the description "Asian" though, it is terribly unfair on Sikhs and Hindus.
Vote Labour, they don't cover up things like this ( I say tongue in cheek)
MrW
We all know where they are from or the section of the 'Asian' community to be precise, but we aren't allowed to say in case it upsets them!!
The more educated know though.
NOSNP
The even more educated know that ONLINE it is predominantly white people!
Fact not fiction
But then your sort are not interested in real truth only your perverted version of the truth.
The truth the WHOLE truth.......
MrW
But this isn't about ONLINE as you keep banging on about, please get your facts straight. I refer to media documentaries and investigative journalism which has first hand accounts of the abuse.
These are gangs that are known to frequent takeaways, pizza shops etc. and groom these young girls face to face, grooming them by buying them gifts and the like.
I'm always interested in the truth and also a balanced, unbiased overview of the issue.
It would seem you are not interested in others people views, which if they don't agree with yours, are wrong in your opinion. That is a narrow minded stance.
I don't fit into a pigeon hole like 'your sort' and don't result to cheap insults to get my viewpoint across.
The truth will out and hopefully more of these gangs are brought to justice and jailed, just like the Telford lot which happens to also be an undeniable fact as they were found guilty of such face to face (not online) activity.
charlie17
We did not need a report to know this, my wife and I were at the cafe in the West Park in May 2013 and watched a group of 6 young Asian men with 2 young white girls and it was pretty obvious what was going on. It is known that a Muslim will only marry a Muslim but use the white girls as playthings or for profit, as the report says as 2nd class citizens. It is about time this was more widely recognised and as part of a girls education should be classes for the young girls on this subject without any lads present.
NOSNP
Shame on you for not taking action. Did you report to the police? Did you ask their ages?
You are as bad if not worse than what you belive you saw going on.
Shame on you.
Next time stand up and be counted instead of letting things stay as they were.
Andy30
Yeah then let people like you accuse him of being Racist ? It's because of people like you that this country is slowly being destroyed.
NOSNP
No, your kind of people make the world a worse place everyday
BobS
Its all well and good you crying shame on you, but what do you think would have happened if reported if anything. You can wait days if you report a burglary. Would you alone challenge a gang......yes I am sure you would. The first thing that would have happened would be you were told to ***************.
NOSNP
That is another issue that only the Government can alter.
But if you are repared not to try then you are as bas a sthe perpetrators as I said before.
Stand up and be counted as one who does soemthing instead of just complaining.
You know it makes sense. report anything you see with evidence OF COURSE.
Got a phone, Got some evidence. job done
Cyril
WOW ! NoSNP, if only everyone were as brave and caring as you claim to be. As Satchmo sang, "What a Wonderful World".
Andy30
I can't see what the problem is ? We all know that Muslims are above the law. They can do whatever they like. Can't they ?
NOSNP
There is a higher authority above the law, God.
bitsie
These young girls are exploited , by charm and sweet talk ,take in mind some of them have never felt loved and are fooled by these men. Personally i don't care what nationality they are , its the same result they hurt children and should be severely punished.
NOSNP
Quite so, it does not make it right.
But, society needs to change such that we ALL care for ALL children and not throw them out on the heap for anyone to abuse.
that takes guts and care by people
What the!
This had been going on for donkey's years down the Lye.
Report it and you have more chance of being done for racism than being believed.
jillian.dubois
There's not enough police and decent parents on this planet to save the victims. Catch the pimps, financially devastate them and punish with real prison sentences. Pimping 10 years, pimping a child 20 years minimum. It would help if witnesses were rewarded with a percentage of the financial punishment. It could create an army of decent people who've had enough of exploitation of minors, females, elderly, disabled et cetera. Deport any immigrant guilty of these abuses.
NOSNP
Why not deport everyone who is found guilty of these abuses? We used to send them and non-guilty people to Australia but they were white then.
What goes around comes around.
davidravens
Deport 'these people' to where exactly?
Odds are they are British citizens.
Andy30
NOSNP yes we know, Liebour and LibDems detest the White working class. They love to destroy from within and if the White working class are being exploited, sexually or otherwise, it's all in a good cause isn't it ? As long as Liebour councillors keep their jobs, it's job done ! Poor White Trash are there to be used, and not just by Pakistani Gangs.
Neswulf
If any of these children live with their parents, the parents should be deeply ashamed. What parent worth their salt would allow this to happen? A simple message should be given to all children, especially girls by their parents - you may be a teenager, but you are vulnerable. There are people out there who will exploit you, use you for sex, rape you. It's not all rainbows and bunny rabbits - there are evil and sick people out there.
If you are a parent you should warn your children about this sort of thing. Put the fear of god into them. And make sure they know what to do if they know of something like this happening to somebody else. This is the situation today and seems to have been so for a while.
Also, mechanisms need to be in place to safeguard children who are in 'care'. Care eh? What sort of care puts them at risk of this?
TheMediaCrell
Look at the circumstance behind these crimes. It seems it's no different to what was happened before the arrest of the "Tipton Three", i.e. certain sections of society were practically allowed free reign to do what they want and without fear of prosecution. I'm talking gangs. I'm talking guns. I'm talking drugs. Some of you here know what particular areas I'm talking about. There's raps sheets as long as your arm here and yet all the local and national government appeared to do was treat those responsible with kid gloves. The police don't police these streets - the police close stations - the police give priority race awareness courses over weeding out the runts hiding behind their minority status. It's not politically correct these days to address an issue head-on. Of course, there's white perverts. No denying that. And no pervert should be tolerated - but that's just the point. Certain types seem to be tolerated far more than others!
TheMediaCrell
This article does no come as a surprise. It won't be confined to the centre pages just because there's an election. I honestly feel like we're seeing the calm before the storm here; that this won't start and end with a few people from a few streets. I am of the opinion the blame will go much further, much higher, and that the revelations will be nothing short of shocking. This is what happens when you have areas where practically anything goes, where the police won't venture out, where the police shut stations, where there is a culture of abuse, and where there is policy of appeasing those responsible. Perhaps if the media had gaven as much attention to this issue as they did the EDL and UKIP, more children could have been saved and more vermin caught. But like I said, you watch. I bet good money this is going to snow-ball.
middley
I agree with both your articles Mediacrell and I know exactly where you are talking about, wouldn't be where an Eastern European lad planted a bomb a few years ago in a Mosque would it, which put the wind up the Police, and the locals were calling for round the clock protection, the Police, M.P's and councillors were everywhere when it happened, let's hope the same happens when they weed these paedo's out. The people who have hidden these facts should also be taken to task, and no information should be blacked out !
Walsall Citizen
I'm glad that this issue is being taken seriously and I hope that both the police and social services will learn from there mistakes to ensure children aren't put in harms way in the future.
But on the issue of these 'house parties', nobody's mentioned the young girls who lie about their age and go to quite extraordinary lengths to try and sleep with older men. I remember when I was at university there was a girl who somehow got invited to a student house party and told everyone she was 18, when latter in the night she confessed that she was only 13 and she was on the run from a children's home. I'd already left the party by that point, and I think someone did the right thing and escorted her to a police station for her own safety. She was probably just one of presumably thousands of teenage girls in children's homes who will go to extreme lengths to try and get pregnant because they think that if they have a baby then a council house and a life on benefits will be waiting for them when they turn 16.
This is a big problem because I dread to think what the consequences would have been if she had somehow managed to fool one of my friends into sleeping with her thinking she was over the age of consent.
We all have a responsibility to teach our young people that sexual activity is meant for loving, stable relationships between two consenting adults and that there is nothing to be gained from causal sex or taking advantage of other people for the purpose of sexual gratification.
The case I mentioned happened about 5 years ago, and I just hope the girl involved has somehow managed to turn her life around.
RJTheEdgelord
These people are despicable wastes of oxygen - less than human. Words cannot express my anger toward these monsters. They should all face the maximum punishment allowed by UK law, and have their entire estates billed for the irreparable trauma they've inflicted upon our women. No more sympathy, no more white guilt! Odds are, this is a widespread phenomenon in these communities and the government should launch a crackdown on raping kidnappers ASAP!
JusticeMaster2000
There needs to be a law that allows offenders of this type to be de-registered as human, and re-classed as 'sub human' or something similar. If they are not technically or legally recognised as human beings, then the state (the people) can dispose of these individuals in a more appropriate manner (ie on a large fire).