by Katie Lam MP, Daily Express
The horrific reality of the rape and grooming gangs which have terrorised dozens of communities across Britain is the single worst stain on our nation in living memory. For decades, many in local government, the police, and care services ignored these crimes, either turning a blind eye or actively refusing to speak out for fear of being labelled racist.
After all, as the Government’s own initial report into this issue makes abundantly clear, the victims were mostly white girls, and the perpetrators were mostly Pakistani men. For many in the British state, the suffering of these children was the price worth paying to avoid an awkward conversation.
It can often be difficult to fully grasp the scale of these crimes, and the sheer number of children who fell victim to the horrific acts of these vile men.
An estimated 1,400 children were groomed and raped by gangs in Rotherham alone, one of at least 50 towns across the country where gangs operated (and many likely operate today).
It’s only because of the bravery of countless victims, whistleblowers, and journalists that we know the truth about these crimes at all.