British MP Katie Lam demands national enquiry on 'grooming gangs'

(‘Grooming gangs’ are gangs that lure girls into romantic relationships and sexually exploit them)

London (UK) – British Conservative MP Katie Lam has called for a national inquiry into the grooming gangs. Some British Muslim gangs of Pakistani origin sexually abused girls (particularly white and Sikh girls) from the 1990s to the 2010s. This negatively affected the lives of people in the cities of Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford.

According to a report by the news website ‘Khalsa Vox’, the perpetrators targeted girls as young as 11 years old in public places like parks, bus stations or schools. They lured them into romantic relationships with sweet talk, alcohol, drugs or small gifts. They gradually gained trust and later pressurized and intimidated them. The victims were taken to apartments or shops, where they were sexually abused by several men repeatedly. The victims were threatened that if they reveal anything, they would be beaten, their house would be burnt, or their private videos would be posted on the internet.

Rowdy grooming gangs and their terrifying reality

The report states that around 1,400 cases of victims were reported in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, which shows the severity of the problem. Many of these girls were from vulnerable family situations or living in care homes. They were easily targeted by people like taxi drivers who knew their routines. Many of the accused looked like ordinary people working as drivers or in shops and committed crimes openly at night.

The abuse continued for many years in Rotherham, with complaints being ignored since 1991. Now, an investigation called ‘Operation Stovewood’ has identified more than 1,100 victims, with trials set to run until 2027.

Crimes and punishments in various cities

1. In 2012, nine people were convicted of trafficking young girls in Rochdale. The report said that one girl was sexually abused by 20 people in one night. In 2025, seven more people were convicted, who were sentenced to a total of 174 years in prison.

2. According to the report, around 1,000 girls were targeted in the town of Telford due to poverty since the 1970s. In Oxford, 22 people were convicted in cases that took place between 1998 and 2012 under ‘Operation Bullfinch’.

3. In Huddersfield, 20 men were found guilty of raping girls as young as 11, more than 120 times, while Newcastle also saw a number of similar cases. According to Greater Manchester figures, 52% of gang rapes involved accused who were Asians, particularly those of Pakistani origin.

Initiative of the Sikh community

The report also notes that this year, 200 members of the Sikh community in Hounslow rescued a 16-year-old Sikh girl who had been held hostage and sexually abused by a 34-year-old Pakistani man. Reportedly, the Police did not act in time. This incident shows that when institutions do not work, people come forward and help themselves.