Ministers told to urgently review laws on sexual exploitation
Victim tells of 'schoolgirls in uniform' being raped
NHS Trust review found sexual exploitation 'not considered'
Author calls for government review of sexual health clinics
Eighteen people were convicted of abusing girls in Newcastle
Victims plied with alcohol and drugs before being forced into sex
Up to 700 victims in total have now been identified
The government has called the crimes committed in Operation Sanctuary "abhorrent".
In a statement, a spokesperson acknowledged the "devastating impact" the abuse has had on victims.
They added that they have "done more than any other government to tackle child abuse".
"We will now look carefully at the recommendations in the joint serious case review,” it said.
Six months after 18 people were convicted of sexual exploitation in Newcastle, one young woman who was exploited for years, claims it is still going on.
Read MoreThey were convicted for sexual assaults, rapes, conspiracy and drug offences.
The victims were aged between 14 and 24, and one was in local authority care at the time.
A charity that supports a number of women who were exploited as part of Operation Sanctuary says it is "very pleased" with today's Serious Case Review.
Changing Lives is helping 33 women affected by the abuse and said their trauma "cannot be underestimated".
The charity is particularly happy with the focus given to abuse being carried out into adulthood and welcomes "the recommendation for a national debate, review and guidance to highlight the need for long-term support for victims of any age"
Director Laura Seebohm said: “Indeed it is the bravery of the women who came forward and put themselves through the ordeal of giving evidence that led to so many perpetrators being brought to justice."
One of the men who abused vulnerable girls and women in Newcastle was interviewed for the report and showed "no remorse", David Spicer said.
In prison, he explained he spent 10 years in Turkey, five years or so in Greece and some time in Italy and France, before travelling to England on the way to Canada.
During sentencing the judge said his intention was to "incite" 15-year-old girls into prostitution.
The report said:
Quote MessageHe displayed no regret, claimed he only had sex with girls over 16 years old and that they knew what they were doing. They were responsible and brought drugs on to his premises. One was homeless so what could he do?
Quote MessageHe was convicted because of a conspiracy by the government, police and the judge who paid the victims. If convicted for rape in his home country, he would be beheaded or buried up to the neck and stoned.
Quote MessageHe was asked about what he thought about the United Kingdom and influences in his education. He said you can get anything here – any sex, drugs, alcohol. There is no control.
Quote MessageHe spoke in a derogatory way about lack of morals in British girls and did not go with Muslim girls because there are not many of them."
The government needs to research the "profiles, motivations and cultural and background influences of perpetrators of sexual exploitation", the Operation Sanctuary report claims.
Author David Spicer said the "model of abuse" seen in Sanctuary was used by men from a "predominantly Asian or British Minority Ethnic culture or background".
In the Newcastle case, most of the men were British-born but all came from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Iraqi, Iranian or Turkish communities.
The Quillam Foundation said 84% of the 264 offenders convicted of grooming between 2005 and 2017 were of south Asian heritage.
Mr Spicer said the perpetrator he spoke to "displayed no regret" and "spoke in a derogatory manner about a lack of morals in British girls".
Sexual exploitation is still going on in Newcastle, the council's chief executive has admitted.
Pat Ritchie said:
Quote MessageI would like to reassure everyone that the council is working very closely with both the adult and children’s safeguarding boards to ensure all of the recommendations are progressed and implemented in a timely manner.
Quote MessageSexual exploitation is happening in towns and cities across the country but what we have learned can be used to help others.
Quote MessageWe know it is still going on in our city, but we are doing everything in our power to prevent it, disrupt it and deal with it, and support the victims for years to come.”
The report says victims were also unhappy at defendants being charged with incitement to prostitution, feeling this labelled them as prostitutes.
It adds: "Those convicted know who else is involved. A separate offence of having been convicted when it is clear others were involved and failing to identify them might encourage co-operation."
Report recommends: *The government should review the law to make sure terminology does not cause distress to victims."
Officers "still have work to do" to identify victims of sexual exploitation, the temporary Deputy Chief Constable of Northumbria Police has said.
Darren Best said: “It is fair to say that in recent years we, as a society, have undergone a sea-change in terms of our knowledge and understanding of sexual exploitation; from the behaviour of perpetrators to the long-term impact on victims.
Image source, Northumbria Police“This review praises the approach taken by Northumbria Police as part of Operation Sanctuary to proactively disrupt perpetrators.
“But we are far from complacent and recognise we still have work to do to ensure we consistently identify victims and carry out comprehensive investigations on their behalf.
“Preventative work is key and a wide-range of safeguarding work is being carried out across the city involving the likes of police, local authority, health, education, businesses and local communities. What cannot be clearer is that safeguarding the vulnerable is everybody’s business.”
One victim gave what the report called a "chilling account" of why she came forward and reported the attacks to the police:
Quote MessageI started seeing younger girls there being raped and not realising it. Schoolgirls in uniform with their school bags coming from school.”
Others painted a picture of dysfunctional lives seemingly devoid of hope:
Quote MessageI should have been taken away from my family before I was born. For neglect. It took until I was 14 years old.”
And another victim described how the scene was set for her abuse:
Quote MessageA man in his 20s waited outside the primary school. We said he was our friend. I was 10-11 years old.
Quote MessageIn the park, I met R. I was in Year 8. He was asking my age and about school and why I was out so late.
Quote MessageHe took us to his house. There were a huge number of people there… R. asked me for my number to keep in touch and that was the start of the problem.”
Towns and cities across the country can learn "a great deal" from Newcastle's experience of tackling the issue of women and girls being sexually exploited, the report's author says.
David Spicer said: “Unlike some other areas, Newcastle agencies did not try and sweep this under the carpet but actively went looking for it and as a result a large number of perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted, and victims saved from further trauma.
"That is not say that lessons have not been learned. Before 2014 perpetrators were not consistently investigated, disrupted and prosecuted.
"Professionals felt there was little chance of securing convictions for various reasons - a lack of co-operation by victims because of control by perpetrators, victims being undermined in court and a history of a cautious approach by the Crown Prosecution Service in bringing charges.
“However, once the true extent of the problem became apparent, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the City Council and partners across the city put in place a range of measures to disrupt, arrest and imprison offenders while supporting victims regardless of whether they were able to give evidence in court or not."
A victim says her ordeal was made worse by giving evidence at the criminal cases with the defendants in the room.
Quote MessageI should not have gone – I was so distressed in my head. They questioned me one after the other for 2-3 days.
Quote MessageI was talking about horrible stuff. It was intimidating. I was asked about a very intimate thing which was extremely distressing. It has caused me a lot of stress. I don’t know why they had to ask such a personal question.
Quote MessageThey brought up personal issues – made me feel unclean. There were screens. I could see the jury. The perpetrators and their family members were there.
Quote MessageI had to see the doctor – who said I was not well enough. Then the trial was stopped - I don’t know why. I was told it was politics and to do with the jury.
Quote MessageI went back to heavy drinking. Lost control. The perpetrators were continually in my head. I was sectioned and detained.”
Quote MessageI had good support for the criminal court. Good preparation. But it made me angry. I was made out to be a liar and it made me feel low.
Quote MessageThat came as a surprise – it was dreadful. I wasn’t expecting it. Afterwards I was very upset and couldn’t control myself. I started having dreams and flash backs.
Quote MessageI was asked about things in my records that I knew nothing about – my past and I didn’t know why.”
A press conference discussing the findings of a new report into Operation Sanctuary is taking place now.
Abuse cases in Newcastle were investigated without fear of "allegations of racism" or "misplaced concerns about political correctness", the report states.
Author David Spicer insisted that any reasons identified for a lack of action were not related to these issues.
The report acknowledges that practitioners felt that early responses appeared to blame the victims "for their behaviour... and responsibility for making bad choices".
However, it is made clear that "there is no evidence that this influenced decisions about whether action should be taken or undermined the determination to safeguard victims".
The 150-page report into widespread sexual abuse of girls and vulnerable women across Newcastle also found:
Image source, BBC/GoogleVulnerable women are being "extensively" abused across the country and the government needs to urgently review the laws surrounding sexual exploitation, a new report says.
The Serious Case Review was commissioned after 17 men and one women were jailed for offences including conspiracy to incite prostitution, rape and drugs offences last year.
Girls and women were plied with alcohol and drugs and taken to "parties" in the West End of Newcastle where they were forced to have sex.
Author David Spicer said the Government should "urgently issue guidance or advice on addressing sexual exploitation of vulnerable adults".
Image source, Northumbria PoliceThe Home Office said it would "look carefully" at Mr Spicer's 33 recommendations, which also included a need for research into the cultural background of abusers.