- By Priyanka Koul
- Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In London, several women and underage girls have been subjected to sexual abuse by criminal gangs. Many of them reported being raped multiple times as a form of "payment" for outstanding drug debts, with some girls as young as 14 involved.
Others were manipulated, coerced, and in some instances, groomed right before being forced into sex, according to BBC reports.
One victim shared her experience of being groomed by three men in London, who gradually drew her into a life of drugs and sexual exploitation. She explained that she was struggling both financially and emotionally, but the situation rapidly worsened, and she was pressured into sex. "I had no money, felt neglected and saw an opportunity to feel part of something. Before long, I was selling drugs on the streets."
She alleged that she was coerced into having sex, sometimes to settle drug debts, sometimes to keep other gang members satisfied, and at other times, to lure customers into buying drugs from her and the gang. At the time, she did not see herself as a victim, only later realising that she had been manipulated by the men.
Another survivor from London, who goes by the name Milly, disclosed that she was frequently given alcohol and drugs before being taken into bedrooms by various men. She recalled that some of the men made comments about her being a "young white girl."
"I was 15. I was getting passed around different men every night - sometimes 10 or 15 a month," she told the BBC.
However, not all cases were connected to grooming or drug dealing. One survivor revealed that during a tough phase in her life, she met several men who lavished her with expensive gifts and attention. Over time, she became sexually involved with them but later realised their interest was not sincere. "They didn't want anything but sex. I was low and they gave me expensive things so I felt wanted and then slept with them," she added.
Detective Sergeant John Knox, head of a specialist team in Lambeth and Southwark explained that, "Within that gang world, the girls are at the lowest rung and they have to do as they're told. And that includes sexually," reported The Standard. He believes that at least 60 children in his area of south London are currently being exploited by gangs.
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Around 2,000 cases of child exploitation are reported each year, including both sexual and criminal exploitation of children. The Metropolitan Police has also committed to reviewing at least 1,200 older cases of child sexual exploitation.