The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

By Mohamed Miah – The Narratives

Grooming Gangs, Selective Outrage, and the Real Meaning of Justice

Here we go again. Another report. Another headline. Another soundbite for the cameras.

This time it’s Baroness Louise Casey telling us what so many already knew deep down, that the ethnicity of grooming gangs was “shied away from” by the authorities. That data was incomplete. That many victims were ignored. That the system failed. Again.

But let’s pause for a second—not to politicise this, not to sensationalise it—but to ask the real questions.

Why weren’t the departments that ignored the signs being held to account? Why are we focused on race before responsibility? And when are we going to stop failing victims in this country?

Because this isn’t about optics. This is about children. This is about protection. This is about justice.

Justice Doesn’t Pick and Choose

Let me make this clear from the jump, grooming gangs, sexual abusers, paedophiles, rapists—I don’t care where they’re from or what their background is. Be it white, Asian, Black, or mixed. Muslim, Christian, Hindu, atheist. Gay or straight. Cis or trans. Male or female.

If you’re abusing children—you deserve prison. Full stop.

Justice doesn’t care about your race. It doesn’t ask your pronouns. It doesn’t look at your passport. It looks at your actions.

So why is it that some races get a magnifying glass while others get a blindfold?

Let’s say it how it is, ethnicity has only been recorded when it confirms a stereotype. In towns like Rotherham or Rochdale, where Asian men were involved, it was all over the papers. But in the South? In white-majority towns? In Black communities in East London?

Where’s the data?

Where are the headlines?

Because if you want to fix the problem—you need the full picture. Not the politically convenient one.

Let’s Talk About Who Really Failed These Kids

The real criminals aren’t just the monsters who committed the abuse. It’s the officers, the social workers, the departments who ignored reports. Who silenced girls. Who told children they were “asking for it.” Who labelled them promiscuous instead of protecting them.

They were paid to protect. And they didn’t.

Where’s the outrage for them?

Because this is more than misconduct. This is institutional neglect. This is criminal failure.

These people should be sacked. Some should be prosecuted. Departments should be sued. And the victims should receive counselling, compensation, and—above all—dignity.

This Isn’t Just a Northern Problem

Let’s stop pretending this is just about Bradford or Manchester. Go back far enough and you’ll see the cracks all over society. Teen girls “dating” 18-year-olds with family blessing. Abuse happening under people’s noses because “he’s from a good family” or “it’s none of our business.”

Nah, bro. That is your business.

This whole culture of brushing things under the carpet—of valuing appearances over accountability—it’s why kids were hurt in the first place. Whether it was in a taxi rank in Yorkshire or a suburban living room in Surrey, abuse is abuse. Silence is complicity.

Don’t Politicise Pain. Don’t Dramatise Trauma.

Let me say something to the media: this isn’t a Netflix drama. These are real kids. Real trauma. Real lives shattered.

Don’t turn this into a political weapon.

Don’t feed hate.

Don’t chase clicks on the backs of victims.

If you care about justice, stop using these stories to score points and start demanding change.

Healing Starts with Truth, Not Tokenism

The government now says they’ll implement all 12 recommendations from the Casey report. Fine. But what about the culture that allowed this? What about the generations of victims that never got support? What about the next child who’ll slip through the cracks?

Justice begins by listening to the ones who were ignored. Give them space. Give them therapy. Give them a voice.

They may never get closure—but they deserve to know that someone, somewhere, finally gave a damn.

Final Word

If the state can’t protect children, what’s is the point of it?

No more excuses. No more political correctness at the expense of justice. No more selective outrage.

Every victim deserves justice. Every predator deserves prison. And every authority that failed in its duty should be named, shamed, and replaced.

Because real justice doesn’t tiptoe. It holds everyone to account. Equally.