Dr Bernard Gallagher, a visiting fellow at the University of Central Lancashire's Connect Centre for International Research on Interpersonal Violence and Harm, has examined the wider picture of child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in England and Wales. His analysis follows concerns raised by John Harris about grooming gangs and their impact on community relations.
According to Home Office-funded research by the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme, police recorded 115,489 CSAE offences in 2023. Of these, only 3.7% involved group-based contact offences, which include the on-street grooming model often linked to men of Pakistani heritage.
The data also shows that Asian or British Asian individuals accounted for approximately 5% of all CSAE offenders, while representing roughly 9% of the UK population over 16. This suggests Asians are underrepresented among perpetrators. Similarly, Asian or British Asian children made up 4% of CSAE victims.
Dr Gallagher argues that political figures should explore why the Asian community is responsible for a disproportionately low amount of CSAE and consider what lessons UK society might learn from this.
