It’s time to have an honest conversation about ‘Asian’ grooming gangs

It’s vital to talk plainly about what led to the situation in Manchester, where vulnerable white working-class girls were sexually abused as those tasked with protecting them simply looked on. The perpetrators have been described as belonging to ‘Asian’ grooming gangs. But the Times has reported that those involved were ‘mainly of Pakistani heritage’. So what’s the truth about who these men are? This is a difficult and uncomfortable topic, but to prevent a repeat of what unfolded in Manchester, it is vital to speak openly.

According to a harrowing report from the independent inquiry into the failings of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and council, gangs of ‘predominantly Pakistani men’ were left free to abuse dozens of children aged between 12 and 16. But while the whistleblower in this case – Margaret (Maggie) Oliver, a now retired former detective constable in the Greater Manchester Police – refers to the men involved as such, few others do.