Many revelations have shown that the social services and the police were not taking any notice of grooming accusations, hence, a new law is being passed by the Prime Minister, David Cameron. The law is being proposed for a five year jail term for care professionals who neglect such cases and who fail in protecting young girls from sexual grooming gangs.
New statistics reveal that more than 370 children have been abused by a group of seven men, in the span on 16 years in Oxford. This grooming gang consisted of seven men, two of East African origin and 5 of Pakistani origin. These men were sentenced in 2013 for their role of grooming girls as young as 12 over a course of 8 years. 5 of the 7 men were given life sentences.
The Oxford grooming case has put light onto similar cases across the nation where the children were deemed as “troublesome” and their plight were not taken seriously. The Home Secretary, Theresa May has revealed that from 1997 to 2013, there have been at least 1400 girls who have been subjected to child-sex crimes in Rotherham. With these new laws coming into force soon, it will not only help protect girls but would also make people aware that no negligence will be tolerated when it comes to eradicating this problem. David Cameron has said that these child-grooming crimes should be prioritised as they are a “national threat”. Additionally, £7 million will be designated in 2015 and next year to care centres for victims of sexual abuse.
These grooming cases have created havoc amongst innocent Pakistani men in Oxford, who are looked upon as potential perpetrators. Many British Pakistani taxi drivers face discrimination as many of the clients specify that they do not want a Pakistani being their chauffeur. This leaves them helpless and makes them feel like they are facing the brunt for a crime they have not done. The men in the grooming scandal have tarnished the names of other Pakistanis and it would not be farfetched to say Asians as well, as many are having to face consequences for the heinous crimes these men did.
This prospective new law brings hope that those who do not fulfil their responsibilities of protecting children, whether the care services or the police, are punished as they are equally responsible for the state of them.
