London: Nine Asian men, most of them of
Pakistani origin, have been arrested in Britain on charges of
grooming teenage white girls for sex.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 40, from Rochdale
and Heywood in Greater Manchester, were arrested on suspicion
of causing or inciting child prostitution, sexual activity
with a child under 16 and paying for the sexual services of a
child.
The arrests, made last month, were part of an probe
into the sexual exploitation of teenage girls by men since
2008, Greater Manchester Police said. All the men have since
been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Last week, two Asian men who prowled the streets of
Derby in a BMW were sentenced for grooming white girls.
According to reports, up to 14 girls aged between 13 and 15
alleged they were plied with alcohol and drugs before they
were taken to properties for sex.
The arrests emerged following last week`s jailing of
two Asian men at Nottingham Crown Court for raping and
sexually abusing their white victims after previously grooming
them.
Former home secretary Jack Straw sparked a backlash
after claiming the case was evidence of a specific problem
among young men in the UK`s Pakistani community.
Rochdale divisional commander Chief Superintendent
John O`Hare, said: "I hope this action shows the communities
of Rochdale that we take the issue of sexual exploitation of
children extremely seriously. This is an extremely complex
investigation and the welfare of the victims is absolutely
paramount.
"Both GMP and Rochdale Council have working strategies
in place to combat child exploitation and will work together
to prosecute people who target vulnerable children and young
people."
"Child sex exploitation is something that parents and
carers everywhere should be aware of. Parents and carers
should talk to their children, take an interest in what they
are doing and warn them not to go off with strangers, no
matter how tempting it might seem."
"We have shown that people who do exploit children
will be investigated," said O`Hare.
PTI
