Three Girls

I think analysis has shown that the majority of crimes of this specific type of sexual crime, and it is very specific, involves a disproportionate number of Asian men. This is not true of other sexual crimes, including those involving children.

Just as we should not blame any particular group, whether based on ethnic origin, gender or any other characteristic, for the crimes of a few in that group. Equally we should not hold back from pursuing and prosecuting those committing crimes, because the perpetrators of a specific crime come mainly from one particular minority group.

I agree, it makes uncomfortable but compelling viewing.

Brilliant acting. I almost didn't recognise Lisa Reilly as she's lost so much weight.

I think gb s right - it's a mixture of all that. The police do have form for treating certain types of women as less 'worthy' for example prostitures. Also, remember the most prolific rapist of all times, John Warboys? He was white, the young women he raped were white and ignored for ages because they were seem as 'stupid girls who got drunk and asked for it and we're probably a bit chavy'. We're deluding ourselves if we think it's all about race- I think class and gender prejudice is incredibly important in determining how seriously some crimes are treated

I agree to an extent BlueBelle but the fact remains that this is what happened regardless of any racial bias. The whole point I think is the Police being so afraid of being thought racist and as gillybob says the girls were seen as an underclass.
When will we ever get to the stage of seeing people as just people and not different races, cultures etc. Any wrong doers must be punished without bias. There are laws of the country and anyone living here should abide by them.

It is compelling viewing,and in all honesty when things started to come to light, we were a bit inclined to think of the girls as the perpetrators - sorry if that is going to upset some of you - but we were totally unaware, naive is probably a better word, of what it was possible to achieve by predatory men, that just did not happen! Now of course we are wiser and our hearts go out to the young girls whose lives have been ruined. We can never make amends for what was allowed to happen, but hope that it will not be allowed to happen again, although I doubt it.

Having worked with survivors for ten years of my life, the men could be swapped for any race, any community, any status I have seen girls and boys in peadophile circles of professional white people unfortunately many people take this as another nail in the coffin of any foreigner who lands on these shores pity it couldn't have been balanced with three more episodes with a more English slant but a story that needs telling

I wanted to jump up and down and shout hallelujah, when Sarah told the parents that a "child cannot be a prostitute" (after the social worker had happily told the parents that she was working as a prostitute). Poor kids they didn't stand a chance really. Thank goodness for people like Sarah the sexual health worker. How naive I was as I didn't think people like her even existed. Thank goodness they do as the SS were worse than useless.

gillybob yes, I think it was a mix of believing the girls to be complicit and in consensual relationships, despite their being underage and therefore unable legally to consent, plus not wishing to be viewed as racist, which led both the police and social services to ignore what was happening for so long. I don't understand why they didn't pursue the 13 year old with learning difficulties case though, but she claimed the men were her " boyfriends". Thank goodness, they did eventually take action, though it's still going on I fear.

It's compelling viewing.

I watched the first part on catch up last night after listening to the interview with Maxine Peak and the real life sexual health worker she plays "Sarah" on radio 4's woman's hour on Tuesday . Very interesting interview. I agree it does make for harrowing viewing but let's hope lessons have been learned (although history would seem to prove otherwise) . Was it because they were Asian men I wonder? And the police and social services didn't want to rock the PC boat? Or was it really because the girls were from a kind of "underclass" and they did not think them worthy of wasting police and social services time and energy? Not trying to cause an argument just interested to know what others think.

I watched it because Maxine Peake was in it. Other than that I wasn't going to but I'm glad I did, though it makes for very harrowing viewing. I missed the last fifteen minutes last night as my DiL rang, so I'll have to get it on iPlayer.