UK to set up taskforce against Pakistani grooming gangs involved in sexual assaults - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces

London – Indications are that aggressive action will be taken against the gangs involved in the sexual abuse of children and young women in the UK. On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the establishment of a ‘Grooming Gangs Taskforce’. It will include officers with special expertise, and this force will assist the police force against grooming gangs. Various reports published in Britain in the last few years have revealed that such gangs are made up of citizens of Pakistani origin. UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman also took a strong stand on the issue, criticizing gangs of Pakistani origin in the UK behind the crimes of sexual exploitation.

Former British Home Secretary Sajid Javid also had to admit that criminals of Pakistani origin were behind the atrocities against children and women. This admissionhad caused a sensation because Javid himself is of Pakistani origin. Against this backdrop, the current UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has also openly referred to British Pakistanis while referring to criminal gangs that do sexual exploitation. Home Secretary Braverman expressed deep displeasure that despite knowing about the perpetrators of sexual abuse, no one from their community or British society is openly stopping them.

The Home Secretary also claimed that because of turning a blind eye, failure to take action and silence towards the crimes of sexual abuse and atrocities, such crimes are getting more support. Under the new policy, those with information about such criminals will also be targeted. Social workers, teachers and police will all be held responsible, and no one will be able to neglect their duty, said Home Secretary Braverman. While levelling the accusation, Braverman also said that this perversion of British citizens of Pakistani origin is against British values.

A report by Professor Alexis Jay in 2014 stated that between 1997 and 2013, nearly 1500 children were sexually abused. It openly referred to British citizens of Pakistani origin and appealed to the security apparatus to investigate it. A documentary called ‘Grooming Gangs: Britain’s Shame’ was also released in February this year. It exposed crimes of sexual exploitation by gangs of Pakistani origin.

In the past few years, the issue of sexual abuse of children and young women has been raised by many media and public representatives in the UK. In 2018, a UK court found seven people guilty of gang rape and sexual exploitation. All these accused were of Pakistani origin. British MP Lara Champion had caused a stir by accusing gangs of Pakistani origin of being involved in sexual assault crimes.

A report released by a UK-based group found that 39 per cent of sex offenders were British nationals of Pakistani origin.

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