Grooming gang victim's story 'downplayed' in Senedd

3 hours ago 1

Getty Images A woman sat in front of a window with her back to the camera. She has bobbed hair and is wearing a striped t shirtGetty Images

There are calls for more inquiries into the extent of grooming gangs

A grooming gang victim has called for an inquiry to examine the scale of the problem in Wales.

The woman, who goes by the pseudonym Emily Vaughn, also accused the Senedd's presiding officer Elin Jones of "downplaying" her experience when it was shared in the Senedd earlier this week, during a clash with Conservative group leader Darren Millar.

Jones said she had been "seeking to protect victims of abuse".

The Welsh government said there were "no current widespread issues with grooming gangs" in Wales.

Warning: this story includes details of sexual abuse

Ms Vaughn, who is now in her 30s, said she was first groomed at the age of 11 and then abused from the age of 14.

She added she was trafficked to Telford, Blackpool and within Wales, and was raped over and over again.

"It was almost every single day," she told BBC Politics Wales.

"People think with sexual exploitation that you're taken to a place, and you're raped once. You're not.

"People think sexual exploitation is just rape. It's not. You're being tortured, you're being bitten, you're beaten."

The issue of grooming gangs has been in the headlines since the start of the year, after comments by tech billionaire Elon Musk sparked fresh calls from the Conservatives and some Labour MPs for a UK-wide public inquiry into the matter.

Backing the calls, Ms Vaughn said: "Perpetrators are so advanced - they're cleverer than the police. They're smarter than a lot of people think they are, and things are changing all the time.

"The public need to be aware of it. The public need to be involved in it."

Asked if there should be a Wales-specific public inquiry into the issue, she said: "I think it's something that's been needed for a long time.

"There's a lot of things in Wales that people aren't aware of. I think there's a lot in Wales to come out."

The issue of grooming gangs was raised in the Senedd on Tuesday by the leader of the Conservative group, Darren Millar.

During his questions to the first minister, Millar referred to Ms Vaughn's story, sparking a heated exchange with the Senedd's presiding officer, Elin Jones.

She accused him of being "overly descriptive" and "verging on not being totally respectful of the victim".

She added "the use of language in this place needs to make sure that you are keeping well away from inflaming any kind of discrimination or inciting any kind of discrimination".

Darren Millar insisted he was not "trying to inflame anything" but was "trying to hold the Welsh government to account".

Ms Vaughn said: "It was quite hard to watch. It felt like she was downplaying my experience and other victims' as well.

"She obviously thought I would not want him to say anything like that, but he was saying the right things because it's got to be talked about."

In a statement, Jones said that "in calling on members to avoid using what could be triggering and distressing language, I was seeking to protect victims of abuse".

"I understand now that Emily Vaughn has spoken publicly about her experience. I was not sufficiently aware of that at the time," she said.

"I applaud Emily Vaughn's courage in speaking out, and I support her and other women and girls in their pursuit of justice."

PA Media Elin Jones who has dark curly hair, stood at a podium and wearing a black and white polkadot jacket and black topPA Media

Elin Jones says her intention was to protect vulnerable victims, and praised Ms Vaughn for speaking out about her experience

The home secretary has now called a review of grooming gang evidence, as well as five local inquires - in Oldham and four other areas yet to be announced.

The decision was welcomed by the Welsh government which said it would "continue to do everything it can to ensure young people in Wales are safe from the horrific crimes of exploitation and sexual abuse".

A spokesman added the government had "received assurances from all Welsh police forces that there are no current widespread issues with grooming gangs here".

On Friday, the Children's Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes said the Welsh government had been "too slow" in implementing the recommendations made in the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published in 2022.

If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

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