It was a remarkable operation: 278 victims were identified, four trials resulted in convictions for 93 offences, and now 18 defendants face long prison sentences. There has been an explosion in the past five years of trials of gangs of men, mainly but not always Muslim, caught exploiting and abusing vulnerable young white girls. Yet many people who work in the field of child protection believe there are multiple other cases waiting to be uncovered. Catching and punishing the perpetrators is an end in itself; it is also a vital part of protecting the vulnerable. Early intervention that keeps families together has shrivelled, youth centres have closed and soaring numbers of children are going into care.

Source: The Guardian August 10, 2017 18:45 UTC