Telford child abuse: New victims come forward after MP says she has been 'inundated' with reports
‘It is clear this has been going on for many years and a significant number of girls have been affected,’ says Lucy Allan
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A number of new child sexual exploitation (CSE) victims have contacted police in Telford following claims that hundreds of girls may have been sexually abused by grooming gangs.
It comes after Lucy Allan, the Conservative MP for Telford, said she had been “inundated” with reports from people saying “this has happened to me”.
An investigation by the Sunday Mirror estimated up to 1,000 girls could have been sexually abused over the last 40 years.
Since the 1980s, children as young as 11 are reported to have been the victims of sexual predators who drugged, beat and raped them.
However, police have “significantly disputed” the figure, calling it “sensationalised”.
Superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, argued the town was no worse than other areas of England and Wales.
“I am confident that, in the main, we do know the scale of CSE,” Supt Harding told the BBC. “Therefore, I significantly dispute the 1,000 plus figure and do feel it is sensationalised.”
Allegations are said to have been mishandled by authorities, with many perpetrators going unpunished, while it is claimed similar abuse is continuing in the area.
The Sunday Mirror called it Britain’s “worst known abuse scandal” proportionate to Telford’s size, comparing the scale to the grooming of 1,500 victims in Rotherham.
Ms Allan told the BBC she had been “inundated with emails saying, ‘This has happened to me.’”
She added: ”I have also spoken to a consultant psychiatrist who has had many patients who have experienced this issue, and are dealing with the mental health consequences of this terrible crime.
“It is clear this has been going on for many years and that a significant number of girls have been affected.”
Assistant Chief Constable Martin Evans said a “small number of victims” had come forward “following the recent media coverage”.
He said the town’s CSE team had arrested 56 people and issued 26 charges since 2016, with a number of investigations still ongoing.
“The CSE reports we have received this week relate to non-recent child sexual exploitation offences, and we will be reviewing them alongside any other available information, ensuring those reporting abuse are fully supported,” Mr Evans said.
ACC Evans urged victims, or anyone who suspects a child is being exploited, to contact police.
“Any incident or information that is reported to us as child sexual exploitation is investigated as such and taken very seriously, regardless of whether or not the victim is engaged with authorities.
“We will always pursue any lines of enquiry whilst at the same time looking to support these people in any way possible.
“Our message to offenders who perpetrate these horrific crimes is that we will robustly investigate any reports we receive, and go wherever the evidence takes us to secure a conviction against you,” he added.
It comes after Theresa May said it is important that inquiry into child exploitation in the Shropshire town gets under way as quickly as possible.
The Prime Minister said “we have all been shocked” by the “horrific” case.
During Prime Minister’s Questions last week, Ms Allan, the MP for Telford, said: ”Like many towns and cities across the country, Telford has had some experiences of distressing cases of child sexual exploitation.
“The authorities in Telford have now agreed to conduct an independent inquiry to find out what happened and to give victims answers.
“Will Ms May join me in congratulating two brave women – campaigner Holly Archer and Sunday Mirror journalist Geraldine McKelvie – for their work in bringing this about, and will she agree to do everything possible to ensure this inquiry starts without delay and leaves no stone unturned?”
Ms May replied: “I think we have all been shocked by the horrific case that we have seen in Telford, of some of the most vulnerable in our country being preyed upon by ruthless criminals.
“Sadly, of course, this is not the first example that we have seen taking place across our country.
“I’m very happy to join Ms Allan in congratulating Holly and Geraldine for the work that they have done – this is not easy, but it is right that they have brought this to light and that action can be taken.
“I am pleased that the authorities are now going to conduct an inquiry: it is, as Ms Allan says, important that it begins its work in order to get to the truth and does that as quickly as possible.”
Several men were jailed in 2013 as part of Operation Chalice, a police inquiry into CSE in the Telford area. Among those imprisoned were Mubarek and Ahdel Ali, brothers who were convicted of controlling child prostitution and trafficking girls.
Mubarek Ali was convicted of four charges of controlling child prostitution and two of trafficking in the UK for sexual exploitation.
Ahdel Ali was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was found guilty of one charge of rape, 11 charges of sexual activity with a child and three charges of controlling child prostitution.