The independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation grooming gangs has entered a significant new phase in London, as survivors and investigators present evidence suggesting that the scope of the abuse may extend far beyond British borders. Recent testimony delivered to the panel indicates that victims of these networks may have been trafficked from the United Kingdom to Pakistan to serve as sex slaves. This development has prompted calls for a coordinated government investigation into missing persons cases within areas historically impacted by grooming gang activity to determine the whereabouts of women and girls who disappeared during the height of these operations.
Rupert Lowe, the Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth who launched the independent inquiry, has formally urged the government to examine the potential for international trafficking. According to Lowe, the inquiry has received multiple witness statements and survivor testimonies suggesting that abusers attempted to transport victims to Pakistan under various pretenses. The inquiry aims to establish whether these instances were isolated threats or part of a systemic pipeline designed to move victims to overseas locations where they would remain beyond the reach of British law enforcement.
The testimony heard by the panel last week provided a harrowing look at the methods used by perpetrators to control and isolate their victims. One survivor recounted an instance where her abusers expressed a desire to take her back to meet their families in Pakistan. She noted that her lack of a valid passport at the time likely prevented her from being removed from the country, expressing a belief that she might never have returned to the United Kingdom had the perpetrators succeeded in their plan. This account is being treated as a key indicator of the potential for overseas trafficking within these criminal networks.
Lowe has stated that he believes there are currently numerous British women being held as sex slaves in overseas territories. While acknowledging the gravity and perceived extremity of such a claim, he argued that the sheer scale of the evil uncovered during the investigation of domestic grooming gangs necessitates a thorough pursuit of all leads. He emphasized that the reality for a significant number of women may be far more dire than previously understood by the public or the authorities, suggesting that the domestic abuse was only one component of a larger criminal enterprise.
The claims regarding international trafficking align with established patterns of behavior previously documented in grooming gang cases across England. Investigations in cities such as Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford have frequently detailed how girls were moved between different municipalities within the United Kingdom to be abused by various members of extensive criminal networks. Victims described a conveyor-belt system where they were transported to houses in cities like Derby, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, and Barnsley, only to be met by a rotating influx of men.
Furthermore, the inquiry has focused on the specific demographic and cultural elements of the abuse. Victims testifying before the panel have highlighted that the perpetrators were predominantly men of Pakistani Muslim heritage who specifically targeted white, working-class girls. According to the testimony, this targeting was often accompanied by racial and religious justifications used to dehumanize the victims. Survivors reported being told they were lesser individuals because of their background, using derogatory terms to describe their skin color and social status.
Psychological manipulation also played a central role in the abuse. One survivor informed the panel that her abusers used religious imagery and concepts of spiritual possession to justify their actions, claiming that the physical abuse was necessary to cleanse her of supposed badness. These testimonies suggest that the perpetrators utilized a complex mix of physical violence and psychological coercion to break the will of their victims and ensure their compliance within the grooming structures.
The inquiry has also heard accounts of abuse occurring during religious holidays. One victim recalled being taken to a specific location during Eid, where an abuser stated that relatives traveling from other cities expected girls to be available for their arrival. Such testimony highlights the organized nature of the exploitation, where victims were treated as commodities to be distributed according to the social and calendar requirements of the gang members. This level of organization supports the theory that the gangs possessed the logistical capability to move victims across international borders.
The violence described by survivors extended well beyond sexual assault. Testimony included accounts of being drugged, subjected to severe physical beatings, and threatened with firearms and knives. One victim described being kidnapped and locked in rooms, stating that the public often underestimates the level of torture involved in these cases. She recounted being held at knifepoint and forced to service groups of men arriving in numerous vehicles, emphasizing that the experience was characterized by total confinement and the constant threat of lethal force.
A significant portion of the inquiry is dedicated to examining the role of local authorities, including the police and the National Health Service. Survivors have accused these institutions of being either complicit or actively involved in covering up the crimes. Past independent reports, such as the Jay Report, have found that social workers and police officers often ignored the warning signs of mass child exploitation due to a fear of being labeled racist or inciting racial tensions within their communities. This systemic failure is a primary focus of the current proceedings.
One survivor detailed her experience with law enforcement, stating that when she reported being forced into sexual acts, the officers responded with dismissive behavior in her own home. She expressed a profound lack of confidence in the ability of the police to provide support or pursue justice, citing a historical pattern of inaction. Another witness recounted how healthcare professionals at the National Health Service failed to trigger safeguarding protocols even after she presented with sexually transmitted diseases at age thirteen and subsequently suffered a miscarriage.
Rupert Lowe has called for accountability at the highest levels of the civil service and law enforcement. He argued that the evidence collected by the inquiry suggests that hundreds of senior officials, politicians, and council members must have been aware of the scale of the rapes occurring under their jurisdiction. Lowe has stated that if it is proven that these individuals knew of the atrocities and failed to act, they should face criminal prosecution rather than mere disciplinary action or dismissal.
The inquiry continues to collect evidence from survivors and whistleblowers as it seeks to map the full extent of the grooming gang networks. The focus on international trafficking represents a significant expansion of the investigation, challenging the government to account for missing persons who may have fallen through the cracks of a failing social care and policing system. As the proceedings move forward, the panel remains focused on providing a platform for victims whose voices were silenced for decades by institutional negligence and the calculated brutality of their abusers.
Inquiry Investigates Potential Overseas Trafficking of British Girls by Grooming Gangs
