Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Outrage over Sikh girl grooming gangs

SEXUAL abuse directed at young Sikh girls by UK grooming gangs has been “recklessly

ignored” by the police, a new report has claimed.


The study, released by the Sikh Mediation and Rehabilitation Team charity, has alleged police have been reluctant to investigate abuse aimed at Asian victims due to “political correctness”.

According to the report Religiously Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of Young Sikh Women Across the UK, the group found evidence which demonstrated a history of mostly British-Pakistani grooming gangs targeting young Sikh females for over five decades.

It claimed Sikh girls would be groomed by “fashionably-dressed adult Pakistani men travelling in flamboyant vehicles to predominantly Sikh-dominated areas and schools”.

The account also highlighted a consistent “disinterest” by the police when reports were made by Sikh community leaders in the West Midlands.

“With the emergence of multiple similar cases across the UK,” the report said. “The perceived failure to act has now been attributed to the ‘political correctness’ that inhibited

authorities and agencies from addressing the racial and cultural dimensions understood as causative factors behind the abuse.”

A number of primarily British Asian grooming gangs have been imprisoned in recent years, including 20 men who were sentenced last month after being found guilty of raping and abusing young girls in Huddersfield.

The convictions follow a similar pattern of large-scale exploitation of victims, including by groups of Asian men.

Similar cases have emerged in several other British towns such as Rotherham, Newcastle, Rochdale and Telford.

In response to the report, which was reportedly presented to the Home Office last month by members of the charity, Labour MP Sarah Champion has demanded an investigation.

The Rotherham MP, who was caught up in controversy back in August when she wrote an article that said the UK has a problem with “British Pakistani men raping and exploiting white girls,” said that she was shocked by the abuse claims.

“When I started speaking to Sikh women, I could not believe how widespread the grooming

and abuse was – and that this has been going on for decades,” Champion said.

“We need to speak of the abuse of Sikh girls to take it out of the shadows and make sure the authorities take it seriously.”

The former shadow secretary for women and equalities added: “There needs to be a full investigation into the systematic abuse of Sikh girls.”

The report highlighted the history of abuse in Sikh communities had been happening for decades, despite the level of grooming gangs in the UK only coming to public attention in recent years, with some Sikh community leaders claiming the problem initially started in the 1960s.

Sunny Angel, 40, is a survivor of abuse. Groomed and tortured by an older man when she was 17, she was eventually forced into marriage as a punishment to “hide the shame [she] was to [her] family.”

In response to the report, she urged both victims and survivors to come forward.

“We need to provide a ‘safe place’ for our loved ones to ‘heal’ from any trauma,” she told Eastern Eye. “We also need to work with the police, not against them if we are looking for physical justice.”

However, a campaigner has criticised the report – which was only made available to the media, several government bodies and representatives and Sikh community leaders, before it goes public next Monday (3) – and the charity’s approach to raising awareness of the issue.

Shaista Gohir, the Muslim Women’s Network (MWN) chair, referred to her organisations own

research which claimed Muslim and Pakistani girls had also been groomed for decades.

A 2013 report by MWN titled Unheard Voices showed that Asian offenders consider Asian

girls and young women a “less risky option” as they were less likely to report the abuse because of “shame and dishonour that was purposefully exploited.”

It also found that when families became aware of the abuse their children had suffered, they were often subjected to being re-victimised – being disowned, forced into marriage or forced to have hymen repair surgery.

The report found the victims were of Afghani, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani backgrounds. Two thirds were of Pakistani background.

“The fact that Sikh organisations are aware of our research and also blatantly ignoring it

shows that they are not really concerned about addressing the issue of safeguarding all children but are more interested in politicising the issue,” Gohir told Eastern Eye.

“In our report we also mentioned the grooming of Sikh girls. So why are they deliberately ignoring Muslim and Pakistani girls?

“They are doing exactly what they accuse others of doing, selectively highlighting some victims while ignoring others, which is dangerous and unprofessional.”

She added charities should want to work across communities and protect all children.

“We should equally tackle all types of sexual abuse not only sexual abuse by gangs – all sexual abuse is abhorrent, and all perpetrators should be held accountable and reported,” Gohir stressed.

In response to the claims made in the report, a home office spokesperson told Eastern Eye:

“Child sexual abuse has been declared a national threat and the government is investing millions to enable officers to actively seek out and bring offenders to justice.

“Group-based child sexual exploitation is a complex issue and the government is working to improve our understanding of how to prevent this heinous crime.”

In response to the report, Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Hall, head of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, said the force took all reports of sexual abuse "extremely seriously".

"Following the conclusion of our high profile investigation into child sexual exploitation in Newcastle, a serious case review found the Force was ‘not influenced by lack of concern or interest, misplaced fears about political correctness or fear of being seen as racist’," he said. "We want any victim of sexual offences to know that they will receive support from specially trained detectives regardless of their background. If you come forward and speak to police then you will be treated with compassion and respect – don’t suffer in silence.”

When contacted by Eastern Eye, South Yorkshire Police refused to comment on the allegations until the full report is available for public viewing next week.

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less