MEND STATEMENT: GOVERNMENT MUST IMPLEMENT JAY INQUIRY RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION VICTIMS

MEND is deeply alarmed by the direction that the national conversation has taken in recent days around the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and so-called “grooming gangs”.

Firstly, CSE is a barbaric crime, regardless of the ethno-religious background of the perpetrators. The state and local authorities must give the victims of CSE all of the support they can while escalating efforts to implement preventative measures against further crimes taking place.

Secondly it is clear the issue is being weaponised by far-right actors and certain members of the Conservative & Reform parties who have increasingly tried to present CSE as being almost exclusively committed by men of a South Asian and Muslim background, contrary to the government’s own data. This is despite the fact that the Conservative Party did NOT implement the recommendations of the Jay report whilst in government.

There are also allegations of ‘cover-ups’ and alleged perpetrators not being investigated because of their ethnicity. Such allegations should be investigated where there is evidence. However, repeating such conspiracy theories, without evidence, simply adds fuel to the fire of fomenting hate towards Muslims.

The Government needs to ignore the lies and conspiracy theories and urgently focus on implementing ALL 20 recommendations of the 2022 Report of the Jay Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Preventing such offending in the future and the welfare of victims must be at the forefront of this Government efforts.

MEND calls upon the government to start the process now.