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Teenagers

Gangs ply girls of 10 with drink and drugs to groom them for sex

Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor
04.01.10

Girls as young as 10 are being "groomed" for sex by London gang members who use alcohol and drugs to weaken their resistance, an official report has found.

The report, by the London Serious Youth Violence Board, says that younger girls "are increasingly being targeted" because they are "less able to resist gang culture and manipulation" by predatory male teenagers.

It warns that as well as being pressured into sex by older "boyfriends", many girls are raped, with gang leaders "passing" them to lower ranking members to exploit.

The report also says that some girls are being used as "mules" to transport drugs, while others are being coerced into recruiting their female classmates and other friends into gangs. The findings, based on evidence from police, child welfare workers, schools, probation staff and others involved in tackling gang activity, will heighten concern about the targeting of young children by older, violent teenagers.

Researchers found that "children as young as seven can be gang-involved" and lists signs such as a sudden loss of interest in school, a withdrawn nature and a dramatic change in appearance as among the indicators.

The report states: "Gang members often groom girls at school and encourage or coerce them to recruit other girls. There is also anecdotal evidence that younger girls, some as young as 10 or 12, are increasingly being targeted and that these girls are often much less able to resist the gang culture or manipulation by males in the group.

"Girls are often groomed using drugs and alcohol, which act as disinhibitors and also create dependency." The study says that one youth offending team expressed concern about "the number of young women who regard abusive behaviour from young men as normal" and warns rape is common.

It adds: "One London project working with girls involved with gangs reports that nearly all of the girls they have contact with have been raped by male group members. Some senior gang members pass their girlfriends around to lower-ranking members and sometimes to the whole group at the same time. Very few rapes are reported."

The report calls for greater parental supervision, close scrutiny by teachers, and referrals from police to social care teams of youngsters in households already affected by gang activity or serious youth violence.

Reader views (23)

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This happens widely in our northern former mill towns but the police are reluctant to investigate it for reasons of political correctness. The gangs are without exception from the same religious/social grouping but it would be un PC to say which it is.

- Mark, Bradford, UK, 13/01/2010 20:08
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Coppers can only do what the courts will allow. Early release when prisons are full is NOT the answer and brings down Police morale. Bring back harsh penalties; evenly and fairly administered Public Hangings, Floggings and Castrations. Pretty soon the criminals hanged/executed/"Reformed" will outstrip the 'new criminal' rate and then we can start over----without 'spending a penny', as it were--ahem--supporting thugs, rapists, terrorists and other 2-legged Vermin!

- Retiredscotsman, Illinois, USA, 05/01/2010 05:48
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IS there any patern to these rape gangs we could learn a lesson from? do they all come from one particular group for instance?

- Phil, UK, 05/01/2010 03:06
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This is one particular religious group in the UK that is grooming under age non believers for sex but this article or the media will not name it ?

- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London, 05/01/2010 02:25
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This has been going on in the U.S. for years. Ever since the liberal media, anti-God crowd and socialist started influencing/infiltrating the govt.and the judicial system with political correctness we've become a nation of sheep.
Afraid to "offend" anyone.

- Confederate Nation, Tampa, USA, 04/01/2010 21:21
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I'd be interested in hearing how LB justifies his/her statement that the 'liberal left' created the situation where children are being raped by gangs. It's easy to make these statements, not so easy to back them up with facts. Criminals have always existed, as have gangs and child rapists, regardless of what political party was in power at the time. LB - come back on the site and explain why you made this remark and why you feel it was justified.

- Lw, london, 04/01/2010 18:56
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A young lad used a term ' its not rocket science' which a few years back made me laugh and with regards to the above story, it is true. A person only committs a crime because a) they believe they will get away with it and b) if caught the punishment will be bearable or of little consequences. So rocket science is, a) to catch them before they get into gangs b) make the punishments painfull in every senses of the word and c) make younger kids that idolise the older gang members watch the elders being reduced to babbliung, crying wrecks begging for mercy and then they will have no idols to look up to and imitate.
Might sound harsh but the best bit of Justice that could ever be implimented.
I also believe that for a seriel offender that refuses to change or is just plain EVIL and yes EVIL does exist..the Death Penalty should be reintroduced.

- Clif, London, 04/01/2010 18:15
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Dont government know what the future is gonna be like.....Gangs girls will be mothers breeding for gangs on demand........I do not jest....it is probably happening now.....

- Man Of T.Ruth, United Kingdom, 04/01/2010 17:59
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Thatchers' Children are breeding see the results of her great social experiment.

All the while the Police refuse to deal with low level drugs crime this will continue to spiral out of control. New York isliving proof that if you get rid of teh low level crime evtually you make your to the perpatraitors front door and you get them and satrt to reduce the size of the problem.

Being poor is no excuse for crime. Being a young unemployed male is no excuse for crime. The sooner we accept that people are responsible for their actions the better off we will all be. Prison is not the place for them but the Army just might be.

- Duncan, Kent, 04/01/2010 17:45
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Stop blaming the government,it is up to the children's
parents to see where and who they are with.
How come my children did not end up in this way?because my wife and I knew exactly where our children were and with whom at all times and my grand child when he is old
enough,my son and daughter inlaw will always know where he is and any future grand children.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 04/01/2010 17:34
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If only the true facts came out on this subject. Like the horrifying stats around what 'social groups' carry out the vast majority of these crimes and how they use race to select their victims

But the police, the government and the media would never do that, not in police state, multicultural dreamworld, britain 2010.

The only hope is that one day, the liberal left who created this awful situation our society is now in, will pay for their crimes

- Lb, London, 04/01/2010 14:22
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It sounds like they may be the children of the children I used to have to deal with at West Croydon Bus Station in the late 1980s', and they were pre NuLabour.

- Gerry, chatham, Kent, 04/01/2010 13:58
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Surely this report cannot be true in a country run by a government that values gender equality so highly !?

In other words, perhaps if the Government had even half a grip on law and order these most extreme and sickening abuses of young women might be minimised.

- Andrew, Hampton Hill, 04/01/2010 13:36
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The ridiculing and neutering of social workers for decades by both right and left as 2CV driving do gooders or state interferers has not helped. After the Climbie case everyone demanded why they had not 'interfered' more. They should be massively expanded and empowered. The Police are hamstrung by being empowered to give only various slaps on the wrist for the first few offences. In every other way this country has modelled itself on the USA and look what we now resemble. Coke and Pepsi political parties, low turnouts, malls, no go areas and gangs.

- Dan, London, 04/01/2010 13:29
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I have to agree with Dave from London.
This has been going on for years and both political parties have ignored it. In Fact Labour have even closed down any comments by classing people as racists.
We have well and truly been let down by politicians down the years.

- Roger, Devon, 04/01/2010 12:59
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Don't these girl's parents look after them anymore?

- Dom, London, 04/01/2010 12:51
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This is no surprise. Over 6 years ago as a special needs teacher I alerted the social services and police as to my concerns for a pupil aged 11 who was already on drugs and being passed around. Police simply picked her up where she was plying her trade and placed her at home again. I called meetings.Social services did nothing but promise another case conference as the previous social worker was on sick leave. The police officer at case conferences was always a rookie who would rather not be there.I explained that within 5 minutes she would be back on the game.She had little choice . She needed the drugs. The sex for her was not in a warm brothel but in parking lots , behind take away shops etc.The asian guys couldnt use asian girls as that could lead to revenge attacks by the family and hence the use of simple white english girls. I,m not saying this is simply an asian problem but that child prostitutes abound and the services are incapable of coping or dont see it as a priority. It is nothing new - In the late 70s I worked with young lads who were put on the game. In those days the pimps were european and mainly adult.I suspect many abused then have become the new pimps. Lots of changes to be made. Muslims forget their hypocrisy - If its abuse it doesnt matter if she is not your sister. Christians , atheists etc remember that abuse is abuse and dont allow it to happen - blow the whistle and just hope the state will listen.

- Anon, Anon, 04/01/2010 12:21
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In certain cultures females are regarded purely as sex objects to be used and abused.The lyrics of the music these gangs listen to embrace rape,extreme violence,drug, gun and knife use. Many of these young people will die prematurely or spend most of their lives in prison. This government, with its political correctness,soft drug and drink laws etc. must be held to account for this shocking breakdown of society, especially amongst the younger generation.

- Lauren, London, 04/01/2010 12:16
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Dave,when I break the law by driving at 90mph on the motorway,who do you suggest I blame,Labour,Tory,Lib Dem,or the party you obviously support,the Monster Raving Loony's?

- Derek, London, 04/01/2010 12:05
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Good grief, it seems this nasy gangster activity has been going on for years, but in the interests of political correctness has been hushed up and is now probably more wide spread. Meanwhile, labour seems to insist on 'educating' primary school kids on the mechanics of sex and a 'no criticism because anything goes' attitude to everything. It would seem it all results in few persons able to make their own way in the world in a manner that benefits generally. How much does it all cost in financial extravagence and social stress. Meanwhile, there are reports of public debt being at around the UK£800billion level (approximately some 50% of national gpd). This has to be repaid, along with interest to creditors. All given, it would seem now is the time to reasses urgently a)the methods used to deliver government and b)priorities.

- Helen, norwich, 04/01/2010 12:02
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All the more reason to get rid of, or either totally redraft the 'Uming Rites Act' so Chavs, Crims and others cannot start shouting.. "Me Uming Rites are being violated" when the Police go in hard against thses street gangs.

Of course the Socialist, Left Wing, Hand-Wringing appologists for criminal behaviour will deem that its its 'Everybody Eleses Fault!" as per usual, as to why this is happening.

- Uncle Vanya, England Part of Land of EU-SSR-Land, 04/01/2010 11:56
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As Tony Blair said, so many billions ago 'education, education, education.' Methink something has gone awry with Nu-Labour's great project.

- David, London, 04/01/2010 11:45
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What a wonderful country we have become.Well done Labour and Conservatives,you rule over the past 50 years has been brilliant.

- Dave, london, 04/01/2010 11:09
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