UK Draws Plan To Protect Teen Girls From Asian Gangs

The British government is planning to take stringent measures to safeguard teenage girls who have been, or could be groomed, raped and sold by male gangs of Asian origin. The government will soon publish a National Action Plan designed to make the issue a 'top priority' for every local authority.

The news comes amid a devastating report into the failures of police and care agencies to protect teenage girls from being targeted by Asian men, the Daily Mail reports.

Children's Minister Tim Loughton suggested that the plan will call on councils to act with a 'much greater urgency' to identify victims of sexual exploitation while taking 'robust action against those who commit these appalling crimes.'

A government spokesman refused to reveal the contents of the National Action Plan, but said that the upcoming plan would prevent sexual exploitation, identify those at risk and support victims.

"We are publishing an action plan this week and that will draw on work around the country to prevent sexual exploitation, identify those at risk and support victims," the paper quoted the spokesman, as saying.

"It will address the challenge of securing prosecutions and the need for robust action against perpetrators," he added.

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Many caregivers in the nation have suggested that political sensitivities are to blame for a near paralysis of the systems designed to keep children safe.

But police and care agencies often say that they cannot take action against suspects without the victim's co-operation.

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Source-ANI