An ex-police officer warns that grooming gangs are still operating in the UK, urging action to protect vulnerable children from ongoing abuse.
Oxford: An ex-police officer is sounding the alarm about grooming gangs still being active. Simon Morton, who used to work for Thames Valley Police, says these predators are still out there, even if they haven’t been caught yet.
He led a major investigation into child rape gangs in Oxford and believes similar abuse is still happening today. It’s a tough situation, and he feels it’s clear that these crimes are ongoing across the country.
Recently, Labour shot down a Tory proposal for a new national inquiry into the grooming scandal. The motion was part of a bill focused on children’s wellbeing but was rejected by a significant margin.
Morton pointed out that these offenders are often right under our noses, influencing others to join in. He led Operation Bullfinch, which was a huge investigation that resulted in 21 men being convicted for their crimes.
He recalled how alarming it was when reports came in about girls as young as 13 going missing for days, only to return in terrible condition. Many victims feel scared and ashamed, which makes it hard for them to come forward.
Morton shared that during his investigation, they spoke to many girls, but many were too frightened to share their stories. They managed to take nine men to court, but he believes the problem is much larger than what they could prove.
In 2022, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse made recommendations that the government is expected to implement. Morton thinks another public inquiry would be a waste of time and money since previous investigations have already been thorough.
He emphasized the need to act on the recommendations instead of dragging things out with more inquiries. Thames Valley Police responded to the BBC, stating that they have made significant progress since Operation Bullfinch, with many convictions and a focus on child exploitation remaining a top priority.
