By Ben Kerrigan-
A review into the sexual exploitation of vulnerable women has called for the Uk government needs to research the “profiles, motivations and cultural and background influences of perpetrators of sexual exploitation”.
The review led by David Spencer was conducted in the wake of Operation Sanctuary which saw 18 people jailed for the sexual abuse of young women groomed in Newcastle. Spencer led the serious case review for the Newcastle Safeguarding Adults and Children’s Boards
He said exploitation was not being recognised in adults.
Most of the abusers in the Newcastle case were British-born but all came from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian or Turkish communities.
Think tank the Quillam Foundation, which focuses on counter-extremism, said 84% of the 264 offenders convicted of grooming between 2005 and 2017 were of south Asian heritage. As a result, the review wants the government to understand any potential cultural influences or ideologies that may have spurred the attackers to be united in their vile sexual exploitations of vulnerable young women. The report further noted that there was no evidence that police and other agencies had been reluctant to investigate amid “misplaced” concerns over political correctness or allegations of racism.
The operation identified about 700 victims in total across the Northumbria Police area, 108 in Newcastle.
The Home Office said it would “look carefully” at Mr Spicer’s 33 recommendations, which also included a need for research into the cultural background of abusers, many of whom in the case of Sanctuary were from a “predominantly Asian or British Minority Ethnic culture or background”.
Spencer said it was clear “adults were being targeted, groomed and exploited” as well as children, but said exploitation wa snot being recognised in adults.
He added that authorities did not have the powers to intervene with adults to stop them “making bad choices” or forming “inappropriate relationships”. Mr Spicer also called confidentiality systems in sexual health services should be reviewed because a lack of information-sharing meant no-one spotted victims who went to multiple clinics.
CLEAR
Mr Spicer, who carried out the serious case review for the Newcastle Safeguarding Adults and Children Boards, said it was clear “adults were being targeted, groomed and exploited” as well as children.
But he said authorities did not have the powers to intervene with adults to stop them “making bad choices” or forming “inappropriate relationships
He said: “Vulnerability is not determined by age and it is likely that extensive abuse of vulnerable adults is taking place across the country unrecognised.”
Operation Sanctuary started in 2014 after a 21-year-old woman with a learning disability told police she had been a victim of sexual exploitation over a long period.
Further reports from two 19-year-old women “confirmed” sexual exploitation was a much larger problem in Newcastle “than previously recognised”.
Mr Spicer said the operation had proved successful but it was only when Northumbria Police and other agencies like Newcastle City Council started looking for the issue they found it.
The report noted that there was no evidence that police and other agencies had been reluctant to investigate amid “misplaced” concerns over political correctness or allegations of racism.
Mr Spicer also said confidentiality systems in sexual health services should be reviewed because a lack of information-sharing meant no-one spotted victims who went to multiple clinics.
Medical professionals such as pharmacists should also be trained to spot signs of abuse, he said.
Mr Spicer was also critical of the ordeal of victims giving evidence in court saying several complained it caused “lasting serious mental health problems”.
As well as reviewing the way victims are treated during trials, Mr Spicer also said the terminology of charges should be changed to avoid causing further distress.
This was after victims complained the charge of inciting prostitution labelled them as prostitutes.
A Home Office spokesman said: “These are abhorrent crimes that have had a devastating impact on the lives of the victims involved.”