The London Standard
Girls as young as 14 are being forced into sex by gangs in London, according to reports.
Five survivors of gang-based violence spoke about being abused by a range of offenders from different ethnic backgrounds, including white men, operating widely in the capital.
The Metropolitan Police told the Standard it has always recognised the serious harm caused by group-based child sexual and criminal exploitation and remains resolute in protecting vulnerable girls and women.
Stock Image
PA Wire
Det Sgt Knox believes there are at least 60 children in his area of south London who are being exploited by gangs.
He said the teenagers are as young as 13 but “15 would be the upper limit”, adding: “The reality is, if a girl can’t say no, she’s being raped and that’s how we look at it as the police.”
Kelly, not her real name, told the BBC she had been groomed by three white men in the capital.
She was initially forced to deal drugs but said the exploitation then got worse.
Kelly said: “I had no money, felt neglected and saw an opportunity to feel part of something so I made some bad connections and before long I was selling drugs on the streets.
“But that turned into having sex to keep people on side if we owed them, or [as an enticement for them to] buy drugs off me and the gang.
“I didn’t feel like I was groomed or exploited. I didn’t think I was a victim. It’s taken me a while to realise I was used and manipulated.
“It gave my life purpose for a bit and I felt needed,” she added. “I didn’t feel that at home. I was looking for something because I [was] lonely and bored.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth said the grooming gang issue was “very high” on the force’s “threat and risk radar”.
He added: “We are very, very acutely aware of the risk of grooming gangs here in London and their prevalence”, he added.
“We have seen examples of grooming gangs whether they’re grooming children for criminal exploitation or sexual exploitation.”
The Met is re-examining 9,000 cases of child exploitation in London over the past 15 years.
Last year, the force said “many” of them did not fit the common understanding of grooming gang offending and include cases within families, peer-on-peer abuse and exploitation within institutional settings.
The development came after a Standard investigation uncovered cases of vulnerable young girls from across London who reported allegations of rape from multiple men but saw inadequate police action.
Scotland Yard said: “The Met has always recognised the serious harm caused by group based child sexual and criminal exploitation and remains resolute in protecting vulnerable girls and women.
“We are strengthening our response through a proactive, child centred approach backed by significant investment.
“More than 23,000 officers and staff are receiving specialist training to recognise exploitation early and prevent victim blaming, with a further 11,500 already trained to identify risks at first contact.
“We have also expanded our Child Exploitation Teams and created additional safeguarding roles to ensure earlier intervention and stronger protection.
“Our ‘Child First’ approach prioritises vulnerability, challenges adultification and ensures officers act decisively to protect those at risk.”
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan previously said there was no “indication of… grooming gangs” – of the type seen in Rotherham and other towns – operating in the capital.
Sir Sadiq was approached for comment.
