Grooming Gangs: Why Were We Ignored?

• Documentary
• News

Episode overview

For years, organised gangs of abusers, mostly of Pakistani heritage, preyed on young girls in Oxford while the authorities looked the other way. Panorama examines the devastating legacy of this neglect for three survivors, revealing the extent of the abuse they suffered, the enduring impact it has had and the questions they still have. Reporter Ellie Flynn hears how the women recall being abused by hundreds of men in the city, yet to date only around 20 have been convicted. Both the police and local authority say they have learned from past mistakes, and while Oxford has so far avoided the notoriety of other towns and cities where grooming gangs operated, the programme hears how those who have so far escaped justice may still be active in Oxford.

29 minutes