Gangs and Exploitation

Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers like Jayne Senior in South Yorkshire fought to expose the truth, only to be silenced—sometimes by the very police officers who should have been protecting children. She has helped over 1,000 survivors and was instrumental in bringing the realities of these crimes to light in the documentary Three Girls—which I urge everyone to watch.

Maggie Oliver, a former Greater Manchester Police detective, uncovered similar horrors in Rochdale. Today, she runs the Maggie Oliver Foundation, supporting survivors. Yet, many of those responsible remain free. Some convicted perpetrators are already back on the streets, while others were never prosecuted at all due to political fears.

This is not just a problem of the past; it is still happening today, on an industrial scale. Those who enabled it must be held accountable.

Before I begin, I want to make it absolutely clear—these are not just "grooming" gangs. They are organized criminal groups involved in exploitation, rape, drug trafficking, and murder. They will stop at nothing to satisfy their horrific and predatory desires.

Marilyn Hawes of Freedom From Abuse talks about the threat of gangs and exploitation in the UK

So - What Must be Done?

1. Mandatory reporting – This must become law so that professionals cannot ignore or cover up abuse.

2. Community and faith leadership – Every community must work to ensure its members respect UK laws and values, protecting all children from harm.

3. Education – Schools must teach children how to recognize, avoid, and report exploitation. Parents and communities must be aware of how these gangs operate.

The grooming process is calculated and cruel. Vulnerable children are lured in, drugged, and raped—often threatened with violence if they speak out. Many victims live in fear, knowing that their abusers will harm them or their families if they seek help.

Cases

Rotherham: Children doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight.

Oxford: A young girl brutally assaulted and gang-raped.

Telford: Lucy Lowe, murdered alongside her mother and sister when their home was set on fire. She was just 16, had a child at 14 by her abuser, and was pregnant again when she was killed.

For 40 years, this has been allowed to continue. Enough is enough.

We must act—now.

A Problem in All Communities

This is not about targeting any specific ethnic or religious group. Criminality exists in all communities, and we must address the issue based on facts, not fear or political correctness. What we do know, however, is that authorities have failed to act for decades, allowing these gangs to continue harming vulnerable children across the UK.

A National Inquiry?

Should we have a national inquiry? It’s a difficult question. On one hand, failing to do so would be an injustice to the victims—many of whom are still suffering. On the other, inquiries have been conducted before, and their recommendations have rarely been implemented. What we need is not just more reports—we need urgent action.

For over 20 years, I have been aware of these criminal networks. Others in positions of power knew even earlier. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, admitted in January that he was aware of these crimes as far back as the mid-90s. That means this has been an open secret for over 30 years, yet little was done.