Diversity and child sex abuse in Britain: Dozens of South Asian men have been charged with a wide range of sex crimes against vulnerable girls after two separate police investigations

Following a milestone operation by Northumbria Police, 20 suspects appeared in court to face charges including rape, sexual assault and sex trafficking. The offenses involved 12 victims, including one girl who was aged just 13, with officers vowing to continue their investigation into the abuse of vulnerable children. In a separate case, 25 men from Halifax, West Yorkshire, were charged with a number of historic and child-related sex offences. Almost all of the men in both cases are from South Asian backgrounds. A total of 31 suspects have already been charged as part of the operation. The victims associated with the latest charges are aged between 13 and 25. The accused men appeared at Bedlington magistrates’ court to be charged with a long list of offenses including arranging child prostitution, false imprisonment and supplying Class A drugs.