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The Prime Minister promised that 'political correctness' would not stand in the way of cracking down on recruiting gangs, while ministers promised tougher sentences and new support for local forces to protect children from abuse. Rishi Sunak will travel to the north of England on Monday to announce a new set of measures the government says will protect young women and girls from sexual abuse, which will also use ethnic data to support police investigations. Part of the plan will see specialist officers help local police forces solve child sexual exploitation investigations as part of a new preparedness gang task force, as Sunak warned that for too long "political correctness has prevented us from eliminate the vile criminals". who prey on children." and young women.
He swore: "We will stop at nothing to root out these dangerous gangs."
The new task force, the government said, would be led by police and supported by the National Crime Agency, with members made up of officers with "extensive experience" in investigating recruitment gangs.
The plan will also see the use of ethnic data to help police investigate recruiting gangs, which ministers will say is necessary to ensure "cultural sensitivities" are not used to prevent criminals from being caught.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman singled out British Pakistani men on Sunday for concerns about gang grooming, as she accused authorities of turning a blind eye to signs of abuse for fear of being branded "racist". or "sectarian".
Alluding to high-profile cases, including in Rotherham and Rochdale, involving predominantly Pakistani groups of men, Ms Braverman noted a 'dominance of certain ethnic groups, and I mean British Pakistani men, who have cultural values that are totally at odds with British values, which view women as demeaning and illegitimate and pursue an outdated and frankly abhorrent approach to their behaviour."
Previous research commissioned by the Home Office found that the majority of gang sex offenders of children are men under the age of 30 and the majority are white, adding that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that gang members who engage in grooming have more likely to be Asian or black than other ethnicities.
His language has been criticized by some campaigners, while the NSPCC has noted that an excessive focus on race could create new "blind spots".
It came as Ms Braverman announced plans for a consultation on introducing a mandatory requirement for professionals working with children to report concerns about sexual abuse.
Sunak, who will be in Leeds and Greater Manchester, also said grooming gang members and leaders will receive the harshest possible penalties, with the introduction of new legislation that would make membership an aggravating factor in sentencing.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Grooming gangs are a plague on our society and I want to send a clear message to anyone who exploits vulnerable children that they will face the full weight of the law."
“It builds on the extensive steps this administration has already taken to introduce tougher sentences and reforms introduced last week to the Victims and Prisoners Bill to keep the most dangerous criminals behind bars, while ensuring that victims get the support they need at all times. . .”
The announcements come after last year's Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse described child sexual abuse as an "epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake."
The seven-year inquiry into institutional failures in England and Wales concluded that people in positions of trust should be required by law to report child sexual abuse.
Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the survey, welcomed the announcements.
She said: "The commitment to mandatory reporting is very encouraging, and I look forward to working with the government to ensure that all of the inquiry's recommendations in its final report are implemented to better protect children from future sexual abuse." ”
Labor said they had long called for mandatory reporting, calling the government's response "absolutely inadequate".
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Ministers have known about the role of organized gangs in the exploitation of children for years, however when Labor called for mandatory reporting and the expansion of teams of police specialists almost a decade ago, they did not act and took a long time. from.
“Only 11% of child sexual abuse cases end with a charge, up from 32% seven years ago, and court backlogs have gotten even worse as victims wait years for justice.
“Short-term headlines are not enough. We need a comprehensive plan that listens to survivors and victims and appropriately addresses child exploitation and abuse, including online, to keep children safe.
Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, welcomed the government's "approach" on the issue, but said the measures "must be backed by funding for services that help child victims recover and support for a system of justice that is fighting to face it".
She added: “It is also essential that we remember that any child can be a victim of child sexual exploitation and that adult perpetrators do not come from just one background.
“Sexual predators will target the most vulnerable and accessible children in society and the focus needs to be on more than just race so as not to create new blind spots that prevent victims from being identified.
"Better data collection by law enforcement as part of the package announced today would help ensure that all who work to protect children have a clearer, more evidence-based understanding of child sexual abuse and exploitation. so that they can be combated more effectively."
Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza also welcomed the plans, but urged the government to "pay equal attention to children arriving in the UK who often face similar dangers."
PA wire
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