Summary

  • Warning: This page contains details some readers may find distressing

  • Five survivors of grooming are appearing on Newsnight in a special edition of the programme

  • One survivor, called Kate, describes how the abuse she suffered "was almost daily", as she estimates she was attacked by dozens of men in Telford and later Birmingham

  • Their appearance comes after a national audit commissioned by the government into grooming gangs is expected in the next week or so, after being delayed

  • Asked about what the women hope to see from the audit, another survivor, Fiona, says she wants to see local inquiries held in order to inform a national strategy to stop future abuse

  • "We don't just want convictions - we want the crime prevented," Fiona says

  • England and Wales' most senior police officer on grooming, Deputy Chief Constable Becky Riggs, says it's "highly likely" grooming gangs continue to operate across every part of England and Wales

  • Details of help and support with child sexual abuse and sexual abuse or violence are available at BBC Action Line

Live Reporting

Edited by Alys Davies, Sean Seddon, Adam Goldsmith and Michael Sheils McNamee

  1. Phillips apologises for delay to grooming gang report

    Jess PhillipsGetty Images

    Earlier today Home Office Minister Jess Phillips apologised to MPs for a delay to the publication of a report on grooming gangs.

    In January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a "rapid" three-month audit into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

    Asked about the status of the review in the House of Commons earlier, which was due to be published in May, Phillips said she was sorry for the wait and that Baroness Casey requested a short extension, adding that it was expected "very shortly".

    "When we have the report the government will respond to it and lay out its plans with all the evidence in hand,” she told MPs.

  2. What's in store on tonight's programme?

    Victoria Derbyshire in the Newsnight studio

    Victoria Derbyshire presents tonight's programme

    You’ll be able to watch tonight's programme live as Victoria Derbyshire is joined by five survivors in the studio from 22:30 - we’ll share some background on their stories before the programme begins.

    We’ll also hear from England and Wales’ most senior police officer on grooming, Deputy Chief Constable Becky Riggs, on how authorities are responding.

    Before we begin, a reminder that some of the details we’ll be sharing tonight will be distressing to hear.

  3. Survivors of grooming to speak to BBC Newsnight

    Victoria Derbyshire
    Newsnight presenter

    Tonight, live, in a specially-extended programme, we have brought together survivors of gangs and individuals who groomed and raped women when they were young girls and teenagers.

    Their abusers were mostly British Asian men and they operated in plain sight in towns and cities like Rotherham, Telford, Bradford, High Wycombe and Manchester, over a decade and half through the late '90s and 2000s.

    It’s an epidemic that has wrecked the lives of thousands of victims – these women included.

    They are here tonight to tell you about what happened to them, and because they say that some of the men who abused and raped them, and some of those in authority who totally failed to protect them, have still not been held accountable - and they want that to change.

    Expected in the next week or so is a government-commissioned "rapid" national audit of grooming gangs, led by Baroness Louise Casey.

    The government has promised it will uncover the "true scale of grooming gangs in the UK, including looking at ethnicity".

    As you’d expect, our conversation is going to be frank, open and it will involve details of sexual abuse.

    We’re incredibly grateful to the incredible women for speaking to us tonight - Jade, Chantelle, Fiona, Kate and Zara.

    You'll be able to watch the programme live on the page from 22:30.