Police investigate new grooming gangs in Newcastle as survivor calls for NCA intervention

Locals have shared concerns to this broadcaster, some of which have separately been shared with the police.

In correspondence seen exclusively by GB News, a Chief Inspector has told locals that the force is reacting to intelligence that “does raise some concerns regarding exploitation.”

The officer has told a GB News source in Newcastle that the intelligence is being “developed” by the force’s specialist exploitation unit.

Reports of active investigations in Newcastle come as a survivor from an historic case told GB News that they were concerned that the police would not investigate abusers properly.

The victim, who requested anonymity, told GB News about how her trial collapsed after basic errors from police officers who investigated the grooming gang that targeted her.

Nadine, not her real name, said: “I was told by the police with an apology that it was because evidence wasn’t stored correctly and there wasn’t enough evidence. That was basically all I was told.”

The brave survivor said she was groomed as a teenager by a woman and several men.

“There was other males that got involved. They were all linked and they all knew each other.”

Speaking exclusively to GB News, she said that the recently announced national inquiry into grooming gangs should come to Newcastle and that the National Crime Agency should take the lead in the historic and active cases.

She backed Britain’s FBI to come to Newcastle because “even though it’s not the biggest city, it’s happening really badly and there’s probably a lot of survivors out there who might be able to reach out if they haven’t said anything.”

Nadine’s comments come as GB News can reveal that North East Combined Authority Mayor Kim McGuinness supports the national inquiry into grooming gangs and agrees that it should take evidence from the North East.

The mayor is among the first Labour figures to indicate that they want to provide evidence to the national inquiry.

In 2017, 18 people were convicted for grooming gang abuse in Newcastle. The “cynical organisation” abused children as young as 14, with hundreds of victims identified.

Across four trials, people were prosecuted from the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish communities.

Most of those prosecuted lived in the West End of Newcastle, where new intelligence is being focused.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Tackling child sexual exploitation is a priority for Northumbria Police.

"At the heart of this is protecting vulnerable victims. We are absolutely committed to supporting victims and survivors – ensuring they are listened to and treated with empathy, compassion and respect.

"Furthermore, we have dedicated teams working tirelessly to bring offenders before the court and bring them to justice.

"Along with our partners, we learnt valuable lessons through a large-scale investigation into sexual exploitation in Newcastle which saw multiple offenders convicted in 2017.

"The abuse that was uncovered was appalling. The subsequent serious case review found that once agencies did become aware of the abuse their response was swift and determined.

"However, we are not complacent and we are determined to strengthen and build upon our response to such offending. We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of any form of abuse – no matter when it took place – to come forward.”

Baroness Casey’s report published this week referred to the serious case review in Newcastle, praising it for recognising “the lack of research which had been undertaken into any potential cultural drivers of offending.”

Baroness Casey said that it “took an unusual step to try and understand this as far as possible by interviewing one of the offenders who had claimed asylum in the UK.

“In the interview, the offender spoke in a derogatory way about [the] lack of morals in British girls and the ease with which he was able to access sex, drugs and alcohol.”

A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said: “Newcastle has zero tolerance to all forms of rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

“We continue to support victims of sexual exploitation, and work with partners to bring perpetrators of these abhorrent crimes to justice. Any victim of these crimes who comes forward will be believed and supported.

“When sexual exploitation was uncovered in 2014 Newcastle’s response was found to be 'swift, determined and committed' by an independent barrister-led Joint Serious Case Review. Dozens of perpetrators were convicted, and some received lengthy prison sentences. All local recommendations made by that Review were implemented.

“We are still supporting many of the survivors who in some cases have suffered life-long trauma. We will stay with them for as long as it takes and continue to work with partners to end these abhorrent crimes.”