The Misconception of ‘Political Correctness’ in the Grooming Gangs Scandal

The discourse surrounding the ‘grooming gangs’ scandal has become highly politicised. Within this debate, the idea of ‘political correctness’ has emerged as the most polarising factor.

Political correctness — and the claim that cultural sensitivity has been prioritised at the expense of white Britons — has been criticised for allegedly enabling grooming gangs.

The scandal documents nearly three decades of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse across the UK. Yet much of the public debate has centred on blaming ‘political correctness’, rather than the failures that allowed the abuse to continue.The actions of the men involved are unquestionably heinous and despicable and they should certainly be held to account.

However, to ignore the systemic failures of the local authorities and instead lay the blame at the foot of ‘political correctness’ will inevitably cause more harm than good. It has already led to a significant upswing in islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiment. The allegations concerning ‘political correctness’ came about once the identities of the perpetrators involved were revealed to be, mainly men of Pakistani heritage or Muslim.

Mainstream media and public figures latched on to divisive comments made by members of local authorities, such as Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, alleging a cover-up on the basis of protecting racial harmony. Given the scale and duration of the crimes, another explanation is far more convincing. The ‘cover-up’ appears to have functioned mainly to hide the negligence and complicity of local authorities in failing to believe and protect victims.

Regardless of ethnicity, when perpetrators became known to local authorities, these men should have faced immediate punitive measures. The crimes were committed and covered up, not because of a fear of perceived racism, but due to a pervasive culture of gender inequality, misogyny, and organisational abuse.

The weaponisation of Political Correctness and those it hurts

Despite findings from the Home Office report (2020) acknowledging “that group-based CSE (child sexual exploitation) offenders are most commonly white”, the high-profile nature of the scandal has led to a disproportionate representation of abusers and their ethnicity within the media. The dangers of conflating ethnicity or religion with a crime is the creation of a false narrative that misleads the public and gives way to racial stereotyping.

In the case of the grooming gang scandals, the belief that ‘all Pakistani or Muslim men are groomers’ is empirically false. It also diminishes individual culpability for the abusers. The racialisation of CSE can cause irreparable harm for the communities demonised and for victims whose abusers are not from these communities. It leads to the inverse being held as a truth, ‘all groomers are men of Pakistani heritage or Muslim’ which perpetuates the myth of an ethnicity being predisposed to certain crimes.

Collective responsibility should not be the price to pay for the despicable actions of individuals who are not representatives of their communities. Furthermore, the implication that Muslim or Asian communities would be protected by police inaction or that CSE is a cultural practice is disrespectful and racist in itself. To predicate the safety of any group of people on the exploitation of children can only be an intentional act of sabotage; setting them up as a target for blame.

Political Agendas and their place in matters of public security

It is dangerous for the mainstream media to continually link “Muslim” or Asian men with CSE. It creates the false understanding that it’s a crime that can only be perpetrated by men from these select communities. In pretending to protect racial harmony within towns affected, local authorities have fanned the flames of racial division instead.

The centring of ‘political correctness’ as a culpable offence is used to distort public perceptions of ‘grooming gangs’ and bolster its prevalence as a social issue.

Right-wing groups and some mainstream politicians shift the narrative away from racial prejudice and toward so-called “valid” criticisms. This reframes prejudice as a legitimate concern about national security. In the case of the grooming gangs scandal, this tactic has been used to fuel anti-immigration sentiment and advance political agendas.

Grooming gangs a result of political correctness

This is exemplified clearly in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s to the public regarding ‘grooming gangs’:

The safety of women and girls is paramount. For too long, political correctness has stopped us from weeding out vile criminals who prey on children and young women. We will stop at nothing to stamp out these dangerous gangs.

The assertion that it is ‘political correctness’ standing between the safety of women and girls legitimises any racially motivated policies that target immigrants or Muslims under the guise of this convenient excuse.

The selective and narrow framing of CSE as an Asian or Muslim problem has been exposed by experts as damaging. It damages the very demographic the anti-immigration advocates are allegedly protecting.

Young white girls are being made to believe that sexual predators are only from these communities, leaving them vulnerable as they will be less vigilant at spotting offenders from other backgrounds, including White offenders.

This will be especially detrimental if these prejudices are allowed to filter into institutional frameworks meant to offer greater protection of children.

Where the independent inquiry into CSE found that “historically, inadequate measures were in place to protect children from the risk of being sexually abused — sometimes there were none at all”, local authorities have assured new measures are being put in place.

It is important to distinguish false narratives portrayed through sensationalised and racialised media in order to protect more children and prevent more victims. An evidence-backed course of action would be most beneficial. It would not be influenced by the rhetoric of media outlets or political figures and their agendas. But would rely on experts’ extrapolation of victim testimony.

Featured image via the Week