Daily Mail
November 27, 2013
Britain’s worst gang hit neighbourhoods are seeing levels of sexual violence as bad as in war zones, it was claimed today.
The warning came following the publication of a report for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner that found girls as young as 11 are being systematically groomed, exploited and raped.
Lead researcher Professor Jenny Pearce, of the University of Bedforshire, said: ‘In some areas the level of sexual violence and the types of violence inflicted are comparable to how sexual violence is used in war-torn territories.’
She added that the ‘sheer levels of sadism’ uncovered by the inquiry had been shocking.
The survey of 500 people aged between 13 and 28 gave examples of young women being forced into having sex.
One 18-year-old told researchers: ‘Once they’ve implemented that fear into them it’s easy to get what you want.’
The report also found many girls offer their bodies in exchange for ‘goods’ such as alcohol or drugs or to pay off a debt.
Others do it to gain what they think is respect among peers by being associated with popular or powerful individuals.
But this abuse is rarely reported by victims, some as young as 11, because they believe it is normal behaviour.
In a foreword to the report – the result of a two-year inquiry – deputy children’s commissioner Sue Berelowitz said: ‘The fact that some adults (usually men) rape and abuse children is generally accepted.
‘There is, however, a long way to go before the appalling reality of sexual violence and exploitation committed by children and young people is believed.’
She adds: ‘We have found shocking and profoundly distressing evidence of sexual assault, including rape, being carried out by young people against other children and young people.
‘While we have published chilling evidence of this violence in gang-associated contexts, we know too that it is more widespread than that. This is a deep malaise within society from which we must not shirk.’