London, April 9: Conservative MP Katie Lamb has called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs in the UK. This request highlights a significant scandal involving British gangs of Pakistani origin that have systematically exploited vulnerable children, particularly white and Sikh girls, from the 1990s to the 2010s. Communities in towns like Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford have been severely affected.
According to a report by Khalsa Vox, these criminals targeted girls as young as 11 in public places such as parks, bus stops, and schools. They lured them with sweet talk, alcohol, drugs, or small gifts. Gradually, they built trust and then coerced the girls into fear and submission. Victims were taken to flats or shops where multiple perpetrators repeatedly abused them. They were threatened with violence, arson, or the release of private videos online if they spoke out.
The report indicates that between 1997 and 2013, around 1,400 victims were identified in Rotherham, underscoring the severity of the issue. Many of these girls came from unstable family backgrounds or were in care. Taxi drivers and others familiar with their routines easily targeted them. Many offenders appeared as ordinary delivery drivers or shop workers, committing crimes openly at night. Tragically, some horrific incidents occurred, including the murder of Lucy Lowe, forced pregnancies, and lifelong health issues.
The exploitation in Rotherham persisted for years, with complaints being ignored since 1991. A major investigation, dubbed “Operation Stovewood,” has identified over 1,100 victims, with trials expected to continue until 2027.
In Rochdale, nine individuals were convicted in 2012 for trafficking young girls. One report noted that 20 men exploited a single girl in one night. In 2025, seven more individuals received sentences totaling 174 years.
Since the 1970s, poverty in Telford has led to nearly 1,000 individuals being victims of exploitation. In Oxford, under “Operation Bullfinch,” 22 people were convicted for crimes committed between 1998 and 2012.
In Huddersfield, 20 individuals were found guilty of raping girls as young as 11 over 120 times, while similar cases emerged in Newcastle. Data from Greater Manchester indicates that 52% of group exploitation cases involved individuals of Asian descent, particularly those of Pakistani origin.
The report also revealed that this year, during a Sikh community rally in Hounslow, around 200 people rescued a 16-year-old girl who had been held captive and exploited by a 34-year-old Pakistani man. It was reported that police failed to act promptly.
This incident illustrates that when institutions fail, communities step up to help. The report emphasizes the need for awareness, accurate data, better training, and listening to victims to address such cases effectively. Victims are calling for change to prevent future occurrences.
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