Faiths Against Child Sexual Exploitation (FACES) is a coalition of Muslim and Christian leaders. Together, we stand united in our commitment to safeguarding all children from harm, working with experts to promote evidence led best practice. We have engaged with the issue of so called ‘grooming gangs’ from the outset, and welcome robust scrutiny of all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation. But we reject any narrative—especially those laced with racism—that diverts attention from the young people at the heart of this crisis.
The recent National Audit by Dame Louise Casey estimates that over 500,000 children experience sexual abuse each year in England. In 2024 alone, more than 100,000 offences were recorded. Yet fewer than 700 cases were classified as group-based child sexual exploitation.
Despite being a small fraction of the total, these group-based cases dominate political and media attention. Meanwhile, the vast majority of survivors are silenced or ignored.
The audit also reveals that nearly 40% of known perpetrators are children aged 10–15. We are witnessing a sharp rise in peer-on-peer abuse, frequently occurring in online spaces, schools, and other peer environments — as highlighted in Ofsted’s 2021 review and wider research into contextual safeguarding (Firmin, 2021). This is a national safeguarding emergency — but public debate seems trapped in a narrow and racialised frame.
We would argue that the terms of reference of the emerging enquiry are set to avoid further consolidating this trap, allowing full discussion of al l the facts.
The renewed fixation on so-called “grooming gangs” has reignited a racialised moral panic. In this context, the call to investigate vague “cultural and social drivers” of abuse serves only to reinforce harmful racist stereotypes (Hall, 1996) — especially about British Pakistani and Muslim men. This approach is neither evidence-based nor just. The terms of reference must ensure this does not happen.
Scapegoating communities does not protect children — it distorts policy, distracts professionals, and diverts resources from where they are needed most.
Sexual abuse is not caused by culture, race, or religion. In all contexts where it occurs—from online spaces to youth clubs—it is driven by power, misogyny, and institutional neglect (Cockbain & Tufail, 2020; IICSA, 2022; Jay Report, 2014). Survivors of group-based CSE have repeatedly described how professionals dismissed them as “child prostitutes” or “whores.” These slurs reflect not just individual prejudice, but deep-rooted systemic failure.
Data collection is not neutral and will inevitably be influenced by the preconceptions of those creating and interpreting the data set. When driven by political agendas, it can be used to justify racist narratives under the guise of objectivity. We are deeply concerned that calls for expanded data on ethnicity in abuse cases are being shaped by those seeking to stigmatise, not safeguard. We urge that all future research be conducted by independent experts with a proven track record in researching these issues and the related complexities. We commend the work of Dr Ella Cockbain, Dr Waqas Tufail, Dr Carlene Firmin and the Safer Young Lives Research Centre at the University of Bedfordshire in this regard.
We unequivocally support the prosecution of all perpetrators, regardless of ethnicity or background. Our commitment to justice for survivors means standing against any narrative that falsely claims men from minority communities are somehow protected from accountability.
In fact, the opposite is true: research shows that people from minoritised communities are more likely to be prosecuted and punished more harshly than white offenders (Lammy, 2017; Sentencing Council, 2020; Runnymede Trust, 2021). At the same time, survivors from these communities — along with boys — are routinely marginalised and erased from national conversation.
We are concerned that racialised narratives offer cover for institutions that have long failed in their safeguarding duties. When public policy is shaped by panic and prejudice, it is children who suffer — especially the most vulnerable.
We call for a national safeguarding strategy that is evidence led and grounded in justice, compassion, and the lived experiences of survivors. This means:
Every child deserves to be safe. Every survivor deserves to be heard. FACES will continue to speak out — until safeguarding in this country is fair, effective, and free of prejudice.
