Wednesday, May 9, 2012

UK MP Keith Vaz insists case of Asian paedophile gang that exploited teenagers is not 'race issue' - @Telegraph

Martin Narey, former chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's, said there was "troubling evidence" that Asians were "overwhelmingly represented" in prosecutions for street grooming and trafficking of girls in towns such as Derby, Leeds, Blackpool, Blackburn, Oldham and Rochdale.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "That is not to condemn a whole community, most Asians would absolutely abhor what we have seen in the last few days in the Rochdale trial, and I don't think this is about white girls.

"It's sadly because vulnerable girls on the street at night are generally white rather than more strictly-parented Asian girls, but there is a real problem here."

Mr Narey, who is a former head of the prison service, added however that sex offenders were "overwhelmingly white" and that there was evidence that those guilty of online grooming were "disproportionately white".

Mr Vaz told Today the offences committed by the gang were "absolutely appalling crimes".

But he added: "Right at the start of this trial the BNP were outside demonstrating saying that this was a race issue. I do not believe it is a race issue."

He said his view was backed by the police and children's experts.

"What we need to do is to have a proper far-reaching, thorough investigation into these crimes and causes of these crimes.

"There are a lot of questions about the way in which organisations that have care of young girls have dealt with them and allowed them to be put into these positions.

"I think we do need to look into this but I think it is quite wrong to stigmatise a whole community.

"This is where it all ends up. It is already extending from 'Pakistani men' to 'Asian men'."