Hundreds of Child Sex Abusers Roaming Free in Oxford, Survivors Claim

Hundreds of child sex attackers are reportedly roaming free in Oxford, with survivors and a former senior detective claiming that many have avoided justice. Victims described seeing men, often older and of Pakistani heritage, who abused them as children and subjected them to drug-induced sexual exploitation, still present in the city.

One woman shared an account of being given cigarettes laced with heroin and alcohol by abusers, who then claimed she owed them a debt and must have sex to repay it. Another victim stated that at age 12, she was trafficked to other towns for sexual encounters, and even alleged that a police officer once solicited oral sex from her. A third survivor detailed how gang members would befriend her, provide her with goods and alcohol, and then demand sexual acts as repayment for the incurred debt.

These accounts are featured in a new BBC Panorama documentary, 'Grooming Gangs: Why Were We Ignored?', which also includes testimony from former senior detective Simon Morton. Morton, who led an initial grooming probe in Oxford, acknowledged that the police force made mistakes.

Sarah, a pseudonym for one victim, testified that she was sexually abused and given heroin from the age of 11, leading to a lifelong drug addiction. Although three men were convicted and jailed in 2020 for abusing her, she stated that they should remain imprisoned indefinitely, as they have had a profound impact on her life. Sarah reported still encountering gang members in public spaces such as shops, petrol stations, and restaurants. She described the process of being drugged and trapped in rooms with multiple men over extended periods.

Chloe, another survivor who used a pseudonym, chose not to pursue a police investigation but also encounters some of her abusers in her local area. She recounted being picked up with random older men and taken to flats where they were raped.

Rachel, also using a pseudonym, was a key witness in a 2013 Oxford grooming gang trial where seven men were convicted. She asserted that police failed to believe her claims for years. The trial revealed at least six girls were groomed and raped over eight years, though subsequent investigations identified more victims. By 2015, it was estimated that over 370 children were affected, and Rachel believes police investigations have been insufficient.

Morton described the scale of the gangs as "crazy" and "ridiculous," stating that the police "should have done more - it's tragic." He indicated that abuse continues to occur in Oxford and agreed with the victims' assessment that hundreds of abusers remain at large. He explained that while the "core group" was identified, further identification is challenging, especially when victims are drugged and subjected to a "procession of men." He also highlighted the difficulty of taking such cases to court, requiring victims to relive their trauma.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson told the BBC that the force is committed to investigating offenders and bringing them to justice. They encouraged anyone affected to come forward, assuring that victims and survivors will be listened to and supported.

Oxford was identified as one of several locations in England and Wales, including Rotherham, Rochdale, and Telford, where male gangs were found to have sexually exploited children between the 1990s and 2010s. In Oxford, a significant number of gang members were found to be older men of Pakistani heritage.

A national inquiry into group-based child sexual exploitation in England and Wales, which began in April, is examining factors such as ethnicity, culture, and religion, as well as institutional responses from police, councils, health services, social care, and schools.