Town is united in grooming campaign

8:52am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Keighley By Alistair Shand

Church and community leaders in Keighley have combined to condemn the “vile crime” of grooming children for sex.

More than two dozen of the town’s most influential people have put their names to a letter describing the practice as “morally, legally and spiritually wrong”.

And they urge anyone with suspicions about possible perpetrators to contact the police.

Signatories to the letter – sent to the Keighley News and carried in full on page 12 – include MP Kris Hopkins, district and town councillors and leading figures from the clergy, mosques and local organisations.

The unprecedented initiative comes just two days before the far-right English Defence League (EDL) is due to hold a demonstration in the town against alleged sexual grooming.

This week Mr Hopkins said he deeply resented the EDL’s decision to come to Keighley and called on the community to “hold its nerve”.

He said: “These individuals and their racist views are simply not welcome in Keighley. I have worked closely with the police over recent weeks on this matter and, regrettably, current legislation does not provide for such a gathering to be banned. However, I have total confidence in Chief Superintendent Ian Kennedy and his officers to deal professionally and appropriately with the situation as they find it on Saturday.

“What the rest of us must not do is respond in a manner which inadvertently furthers the malevolent aims of the EDL.

“They want to create division, bitterness and hatred in Keighley but we must not let them succeed.

“I would ask local people to go about their normal business, to support local retailers and let the police do their job.”

District councillor Abid Hussain, a leading member of Keighley Muslim Association, appealed to the Muslim community to show restraint.

Coun Hussain said: “Everybody has a right to protest and we cannot stop this protest, but members of the Muslim community will be concerned.

“I don't think anyone wants the EDL in Keighley but we are hoping for a peaceful demonstration.

"The message for the Muslim community, which will be passed on to all the mosques, will be to make sure there is no confrontation."

The EDL’s Yorkshire division has announced it plans to hold a peaceful demonstration at Church Green at 2pm against allegations of the sexual grooming of white girls by Asian men.

The event was planned after police made ten arrests across Bradford district - the majority in Keighley - of men suspected of grooming a 14-year-old girl.

They have all been released on bail as an investigation continues.

The protest is expected to be heavily policed and demonstrators arriving by train will be escorted by officers.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We have a great deal of experience in handling such events and appropriate police resources will be available on the day."

Town centre traders met yesterday to discuss the situation and Bradford Council is staffing a helpline - 01274 430900 - for any businesses wanting information and advice.

Comments(12)

MollyD says...
9:39am Thu 2 Aug 12

I hope the event goes off peacefully - the EDL only get publicity from their demos when there's trouble. The police did a really good job last time the EDL came to Halifax and everyone in town just had a normal Saturday while the EDL did their thing tucked away in a corner somewhere. I suppose if they want to spend their weekends drinking then standing around shouting, that's up to them (for all the good it does).

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Keighley Watch says...
4:24pm Thu 2 Aug 12

If Ann Cryer had spoke up earlier about this vile practice then the EDL would not have had the opportunity to come to Keighley. She knew that this perverted practice was going on years before yet only ever spoke lightly about the subject. Sometimes you need a few shock waves sending through the establishment to make politicians wake up. Another thing, I keep hearing community leaders this, community leaders that, it is not their job to decide what is wrong and what isn't, we have laws in this Country for that, the Police chiefs need to get off their backsides and stop being pathetic in dealing with this crime.

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anglosaxon says...
4:08pm Fri 3 Aug 12

This Community leader..wants them castrated....whateve
r race or coulour they are...but i guess thats wishful thinking...that would be my law...but we will never get to vote on this matter.

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paul65 says...
7:39am Sat 4 Aug 12

@Molly D: Sounds like Halifax police did the right thing, but the Keighley demo is to take place on Church Green, which is right in the centre of town, next to the shopping centre and market. To get there from the station, police are going to escort EDL right thru the centre of Keighley on a Sat, which is bound to cause worry and fear to shoppers and families of all races. I say the demo should be held away from town centre in a car park or sports field, of which there are plenty in the opposite direction from the station to the town centre. I think the police and council have dropped a brick and should be held to account if it kicks off.

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legsman says...
4:25pm Sat 4 Aug 12

I don't agree. They had their demonstration right in the centre of town, most people ignored them and it went off without much interest. They took their best shot and it failed. They couldn't even blame bad weather (which was forecast) so EDL have failed in their bid for notoriety in Keighley, despite their best efforts. If the Police had kettled them into a quiet corner it would allow them to say that their freedom of speech had been denied. They can't use that excuse today.

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Mixter says...
7:57pm Sat 4 Aug 12

Id also like to know where these 'community leaders' are when this crime is going on? Given the community in question is supposedly so tight knit where everyone knows what everyone else is doing; how does it go unreported to the police as its happening? There must be more 'blind-eyes' than a sack of spuds in the 'community'! Im no EDL supporter, but if the roles were reversed, with a bunch of white perverts (which is what the accused are) were up for raping (which is what theyve done) an Asian female, it would be on News at Ten every night till the perps were banged up. Not to mention the street demos/riots that would take place country-wide. Its time the guilty parties of this crime were really hammered for the vile, sickening (and racist) act it is.

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bug86 says...
10:46pm Sat 4 Aug 12

From what I gather Ann Cryer spoke on many occasions about this issue (and on forced marriage) and to be realistic these groomers will prey on any kids who have no self esteem whether they are white black or Asian . It seems the only reason more white kids are victims is because they are out on the streets and available to fall for the guff they are given by these lads. plus the jobs SOME and I mean some not all of them have make it easier for them to pick them up.

I think the lads and often men see the kids as easy pickings. there's a hell of a lot of work that needs to be done on both sides to stop it happening.

By the way am really chuffed to see no reaction to the EDL and think Keighley did well by ignoring the idiots .

PS EDL and BNP did you notice who is winning our gold medals oooooooohhhhhhhhhh they're dual heritage (Multi cultural Britain is winning gold medals) stick that in your pipe n smoke it.

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Mixter says...
4:20pm Sun 5 Aug 12

bug86 wrote:
From what I gather Ann Cryer spoke on many occasions about this issue (and on forced marriage) and to be realistic these groomers will prey on any kids who have no self esteem whether they are white black or Asian . It seems the only reason more white kids are victims is because they are out on the streets and available to fall for the guff they are given by these lads. plus the jobs SOME and I mean some not all of them have make it easier for them to pick them up.

I think the lads and often men see the kids as easy pickings. there's a hell of a lot of work that needs to be done on both sides to stop it happening.

By the way am really chuffed to see no reaction to the EDL and think Keighley did well by ignoring the idiots .

PS EDL and BNP did you notice who is winning our gold medals oooooooohhhhhhhhhh they're dual heritage (Multi cultural Britain is winning gold medals) stick that in your pipe n smoke it.
Im no fortune teller, but you are going to have to wait a very very long time till a case of Asian men grooming Asian girls for sex comes to light.

And if its easy to find these girls on the street, why not save themselves the hassle of going out, and have a go at the girls in their own homes?

Agreed, the victims arent helping themselves in a lot of cases, but its hardly their own faults these perverts are praying on them.

Sorry mate, but theres only ever going to be one culture as victim and another as perpetrator in this game.

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bug86 says...
5:16pm Sun 5 Aug 12

What we tend to forget is that most sex offenders are white british and we are not blaming all white men and tarring them with the same brush.
What we need to understand is why asian men men as a minority group are over represented in this specific offence

I have never blamed the kids involved but when they have no family to turn to, and these blokes seemingly listen to them and the kids probably have their family saying all Asians are rubbish it may well sway them into thinking that these blokes love them. I have worked with kids who think that and they will do anything for a packet of cigs and a bit of weed.
(you want want you can't have and the people telling you, you can't have it aren't really that good to you, so you go for it any way, forbidden fruit)
If the adults around them were able to inspire a bit of confidence in them they wouldn't fall for it
if the blokes who did it saw the same worth in these kids as they presumably do in their own female family members they wouldnt treat these girls like dirt.

it's really easy to find these kids on the street and the kids are sucked in by the attention given to them and the easy access to food and cheap jewellery sweets and drugs and the nice cars some of them have.

There are lad victims too if you didnt know
some of these kids draw their "friends" into it too.

I still feel if you're young and vulnerable with no self esteem you could easily end up a victim whether you're black yellow or purple

It's too easy to blame religion. The blokes who do it clearly are not religious as their religion does not encourage this. Their relgion is anti drink, yet I imagine most of these blokes drink and do drugs.

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gillypam says...
11:19pm Sun 5 Aug 12

why not let EDL have there say they only saying what most keighley people think.keighley police have known this as being going on for quite a long time and they know which areas .keighley people know were these area are but we can,t do anything to try to protect these inercent young girls we hopefully leave it to the police to catch these sick ....... but they are still getting away with it.

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Keighley Watch says...
12:45pm Mon 6 Aug 12

bug86 wrote:
What we tend to forget is that most sex offenders are white british and we are not blaming all white men and tarring them with the same brush. What we need to understand is why asian men men as a minority group are over represented in this specific offence I have never blamed the kids involved but when they have no family to turn to, and these blokes seemingly listen to them and the kids probably have their family saying all Asians are rubbish it may well sway them into thinking that these blokes love them. I have worked with kids who think that and they will do anything for a packet of cigs and a bit of weed. (you want want you can't have and the people telling you, you can't have it aren't really that good to you, so you go for it any way, forbidden fruit) If the adults around them were able to inspire a bit of confidence in them they wouldn't fall for it if the blokes who did it saw the same worth in these kids as they presumably do in their own female family members they wouldnt treat these girls like dirt. it's really easy to find these kids on the street and the kids are sucked in by the attention given to them and the easy access to food and cheap jewellery sweets and drugs and the nice cars some of them have. There are lad victims too if you didnt know some of these kids draw their "friends" into it too. I still feel if you're young and vulnerable with no self esteem you could easily end up a victim whether you're black yellow or purple It's too easy to blame religion. The blokes who do it clearly are not religious as their religion does not encourage this. Their relgion is anti drink, yet I imagine most of these blokes drink and do drugs.
It's nothing to do with religion it is a cultural issue. Paedophilia is a crime in this Country regardless of skin colour, ethnicity or anything else, but the fact remains that in this case and many others that are now at last coming to light, this is a predominantly Muslim men on yound white girls.

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Keighley Watch says...
12:46pm Mon 6 Aug 12

Typo in last comment at end.

Young white girls.

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