UK Authorities Masked Grooming Gangs' Ethnicity to Avoid 'Appearing Racist', Audit Finds
A recent national audit has uncovered that UK authorities deliberately concealed the ethnic backgrounds of perpetrators involved in grooming gang cases, largely to prevent accusations of racism and to avoid stirring community tensions.
Ethnicity Not Collected in Majority of Cases
Ordered by Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this year, the investigation revealed that in nearly two-thirds of grooming gang cases, ethnicity data was not collected at all. This lack of transparency hindered an accurate understanding of the demographic makeup of offenders.
The audit also challenged earlier Home Office claims from 2020, which had suggested the majority of perpetrators were white. That report was found to be based on flawed and incomplete data, calling into question prior official narratives.
Data Shows Over-Representation of Certain Ethnicities
Baroness Casey, who led the audit, highlighted that among the limited cases where ethnicity was registered, there was a notable over-representation of men of Asian descent. The report criticized previous official documents for often avoiding any direct discussion of ethnicity, using vague phrases like "local community" instead, or burying such details deep within reports.
She emphasized that examining the ethnicity of sexual offenders is a necessary part of understanding and tackling the issue—adding that such scrutiny should not be branded racist.
Broader Victim Demographics and Cultural Concerns
The audit also found that victims were not exclusively white girls but included children from Sikh and Hindu backgrounds. There were concerns that cultural and religious factors contribute to the vulnerability of these children, who may avoid reporting abuse due to fear of shame or stigmatization.
Baroness Casey urged deeper investigations into these cultural drivers and advocated for stronger protective measures. Among her recommendations:
- Making ethnicity data collection mandatory for police forces.
- National Crime Agency oversight of grooming gang investigations.
- A full national inquiry into grooming gangs.
- Ensuring adults engaging in penetrative sex with minors under 16 face rape charges.
- Government-commissioned research into the factors fueling child sexual exploitation.
Shift in Political Stance and National Inquiry Announcement
Prior to the audit, some Labour MPs had opposed a national inquiry, with Starmer previously dismissing calls for it as aligned with far-right rhetoric. However, the findings prompted a significant policy shift, and the Prime Minister has since agreed to launch a national inquiry and implement all twelve recommendations from the report.
Additionally, the audit revealed that among ongoing investigations, a significant number of suspects are non-UK nationals or asylum seekers, a fact that adds another layer of complexity to the issue.
