National Police Chiefs’ Council Data Contradicts Elon Musk’s Claims on Grooming Gangs
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has released new data showing that the majority of sexual grooming gang offenses are committed by white men, following false accusations made by Elon Musk against British-Pakistani men.
The NPCC’s data, from the first three quarters of 2024, reveals that 85% of “group-based” child abusers, where ethnicity data was available, were white, with the figure for 2023 standing at 83%. This data contradicts Musk’s false claims on X (formerly Twitter), where he accused British-Pakistani men of being predominantly involved in grooming gangs.
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Richard Fewkes, Director of the NPCC’s Hydrant program, emphasized that there is no significant ethnic pattern when it comes to grooming gangs. He clarified that the data reflects a broader picture across the country and does not point to any one ethnicity being more involved than others.
Musk’s accusations against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others, including labeling them “complicit” in child sexual abuse, sparked controversy and prompted backlash. Starmer, who had ensured the prosecution of grooming gang offenders as the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), was falsely implicated in Musk’s claims. Musk also attacked Minister Jess Phillips, calling her a “rape genocide apologist.”
The NPCC data indicates that the highest proportion of child sexual abuse suspects in 2023 were white (83%), followed by Pakistani suspects at 2.7%. In 2024, this trend continued, with 85% of suspects being white and 3.9% being Pakistani. Notably, when focusing on “group-based” child sexual exploitation, 70% of grooming gang suspects in 2023 were white, with Pakistani suspects accounting for 6.9%. In 2024, these figures remained similar.
The NPCC stated that the ethnicity data available covers only a portion of suspects—34% in 2023 and 39% in 2024—indicating the need for more comprehensive information moving forward.
Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the NPCC’s lead on child protection, warned that the focus on one particular ethnic group had marginalized other victims and urged attention on all types of child sexual abuse. She also highlighted the risk of victims feeling their experiences were less valid due to media focus on specific groups.
While political figures like Nigel Farage have called for an inquiry into grooming gangs of Pakistani origin, the NPCC’s data indicates that grooming gangs involve individuals from various backgrounds, and the issue is not confined to one community.
Gabrielle Shaw, CEO of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, condemned the use of trauma for political gain, emphasizing that victims should not be exploited for headlines.
The NPCC’s release of this data follows debates in Parliament over the need for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, a move some see as politicizing the issue. The controversy surrounding Musk’s recent remarks continues to spark discussion, with Sir Keir Starmer defending his record and accusing Musk of spreading misinformation.
