MP’S urgent plea to secure convictions of grooming gangs
RENEWED CALL FOR ACTION AFTER CHILLING TEXTS EMERGE
CITY MP Diana Johnson has urged police and prosecutors to do “everything possible” to secure convictions in cases of grooming and sexual exploitation of women and girls.
The Hull North MP spoke out after new details emerged of chilling texts sent to a young girl by members of an alleged Hull grooming gang threatening to burn her alive and bury her at Hessle Foreshore unless she did as she was told.
The messages, unearthed in a new Sky News investigation into grooming and exploitation highlighted by Hull Live earlier this year, have revealed the desperate lives led by gang victims.
A number of young women came forward to speak to Hull Live following the announcement that the Humberside Police investigation into exploitation, known as Operation Marksman, was being wound down earlier this year.
Despite 34 men and women being arrested or questioned on suspicion of offences such as rape, sexual assault and facilitating child exploitation during Operation Marksman, only a small number have been charged and there has only been a single conviction.
Among the evidence made public this week are texts sent to a victim known as Sarah, now 19, who told Sky News that in her early teenage years she was threatened with being buried alive if she did not return regularly to a flat to be raped by a gang of men.
After reviewing the girls’ evidence, former chief police officer and founder of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre Jim Gamble called on Humberside Police to renew their efforts to bring more suspects to court.
Ms Johnson said: “I want the full force of the law used against any criminals involved in grooming, acts of violence and the sexual exploitation of girls and young women. I also want to see vulnerable survivors getting all the support they need to come forward.
“Hull’s MPS are in regular contact with Humberside Police and Hull City Council on this issue and have urged, and will continue to urge, police and the Crown Prosecution Service to do everything possible to charge and secure the prosecution of anyone involved in grooming and the sexual exploitation of women and girls.
“Whenever I have been approached by Hull North constituents about these issues, I immediately refer them to senior officers at Humberside Police and the director of children’s services at Hull City Council.
“I urge anyone in the wider public who believe they have evidence of criminal activity to give it to police. Without this, no prosecutions can happen.
“I certainly do not believe that the issue has been taken seriously enough in recent years and we need major reform to the way we deal rape and the treatment of victims.”
Detective Chief Superintendent, Phillip Ward said: “Despite two years of intensive investigation, analysis and examination, we share the disappointment and frustration that we have been unable to identify sufficient evidence to corroborate or support the accounts given to us by the victims.
“As a result, we have been unable to meet the Crown Prosecution Service’s evidential threshold for us to formally charge anyone in relation to Operation Marksman.
“Critically, the investigation found no evidence of organised child sexual exploitation in any part of our community, either geographically or through ethnicity.
“I would like to reiterate that while current lines of enquiry have been exhausted, we will never fully close this investigation and I urge anyone with new information to get in touch with us as a priority. We will investigate all information provided to us.”