MAPPED: The London grooming gangs that have left Sadiq Khan on the brink

Children across London who suffered horrific sexual abuse were likely to have been the victims of grooming gangs, according to experts who analysed their cases for the Express.

Investigations by the Express and MyLondon identified 24 cases from across the capital in council documents, reviews into the deaths of children in care and historic media reports.

These were confirmed by Rochdale grooming gangs whistleblower police detective Maggie Oliver as exhibiting the same patterns as groups she had investigated in Greater Manchester. Survivor-advocate Jade Nurse, who also reviewed the cases, which she described as "close to home", questioned why there had not been more action.

Nurse criticised Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for previously claiming there were "no reports" or "indications" of grooming gangs operating in the city, accusing him of being part of a "cover-up".

"How is the mayor not seeing what is actually happening in his city when two journalists just come up with all of these facts [on what's] happening in London? How does the mayor not see it? Because they're all part of a massive cover-up that we all need to get to the bottom of. [We] girls are suffering day in, day out. When we close our eyes we're having bad dreams."

Scroll down to read about each of the cases or explore the interactive map below.

Haringey, Child O, 2012

It was believed Child O had been raped by men in Finsbury Park from the age of 12. She then writes a letter to a friend where she claims she was abducted, taken to a park, beaten and raped. The same letter mentions her being raped by multiple men, drinking alcohol, giving birth to a child, as well as experiencing "numerous pregnancies and miscarriages".

The police don't keep this letter or take any action but suggest a specialist officer finds out "what her mental state of mind is." At the age of 16, Child O takes her own life.

Croydon, 'Chloe', 2020

Chloe is a child in care who, aged 11, alleges she's been raped. The review into her death describes how the professionals called her "spiteful and defiant" and suggested she was "putting herself at risk with older men."

Kingston, 'Sylvia', 2021

Sylvia was found dead from a drug overdose in 2021. The review into her death shows there were concerns about her being sexually exploited from the age of 13, with reports of several sexual assaults and so-called "relationships" with older men that revolved around coercive control, drug use and missing episodes. She was repeatedly arrested with men known to pose a risk to children. One got her pregnant aged 16, the other sexually exploited her.

Lambeth, 'Olivia', 2022

Olivia goes missing at least 25 times and reports being raped four times from the age of 13. She has a miscarriage and is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. Aged 17, Olivia is found in a hotel room with six men, having been given alcohol and Class A drugs. She says she has been raped by two of the men and parts of the attack were filmed.

Hounslow, 'Jamie', 2015

Concerns in Hounslow were so high in 2015, the council published an edition of their quarterly magazine with a front page real life story on the dangers of child sexual exploitation. It was about a 15-year-old called Jamie, who is skipping school when she's approached by a man in his 20s called Tom telling her she's gorgeous. He gives her vodka, cigarettes and begins to abuse her. Then he gives her harder drugs and coerces her into sex with his friends. He films it and uses it to blackmail Jamie when she wants to leave. Jamie is scared so she continues to be abused by many different men.

After that story is shared with 100,000 Hounslow residents, the council says two other children got in contact who were being exploited.

Newham, Operation Grandbye, 2017

A national newspaper wrote a story about four girls, aged between 13 and 15, who reported being raped by a gang based around a McDonald's in Stratford. Through FOIs it was established 18 victims were identified and three men were charged, but, as far as we know, those men were never prosecuted for sex offences.

Hillingdon, Operation Baker, 2014

As police built a case against a group in Hillingdon, it became clear there were serious concerns about the way the four child victims had been safeguarded over a number of years. The review found that between the ages of 13 and 17 the three female victims repeatedly told professionals they'd been sexually assaulted, with one saying she'd had sex aged 12, which is statutory rape. Other children told the authorities they'd been offered drugs and alcohol to have sex with men at the girls' homes, and that the victims were involved in prostitution.

Hillingdon, Levi Bellfield-linked group, 2000-2016

Back in 2017, two national newspapers named a notorious serial killer and sex offender as being part of a grooming gang in the area. The articles cited a report written by the local council's child sexual exploitation manager, identifying a group of seven alleged sex offenders and at least 17 victims.

The report makes the point that while the murderer has been long locked away the others are still at large and pose a serious "risk to children". The council employee's report states that they believed "they'd done nothing wrong and are untouchable".

It was reported that the murderer had a "raping room" in his Hanworth flat where the date rape drug GHB was slipped into the drinks of young victims during parties. And there was evidence at hearings for one of his murder victims that he'd filmed himself having sex with another member of the group's 14-year-old daughter.

It is a matter of public record that the original police investigation in the killer's murders uncovered evidence of the serial killer's sexual offences. As the case's lead detective told the papers at the time: "Bellfield was a serial sex predator when it came to young girls and we had evidence that linked him to a number of convicted paedophiles."

The serial killer was later convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler, a Surrey Police investigation, which was led back in 2002 by Sir Mark Rowley.

Hounslow, 'specific group of males', 2017

Documents we found from 2017 describe concerns about a "specific group of males" who are grooming young girls. The council report says that police are investigating these men and checking children in care to see if there are any concerns.

Lewisham, 'Eastern European men in their 20s', 2002

In 2002 the South London council of Lewisham brought in academics from Imperial College London to examine sexual exploitation in the borough. Their research was motivated by reports of inappropriate relationships between Eastern European men in their 20s and girls between the ages of 13 and 15. It says girls who went to Malory School in 2002 were being approached in Lewisham town centre and befriended by the men, who they referred to as their boyfriends. Imperial College also find relationships between the same group and pupils from Sydenham Girls School. Researchers say the children are vulnerable and under little supervision. Several girls who grew frightened of their relationships later say they were introduced to much older men by their boyfriends and offered money, and encouraged to recruit other children.

Lewisham, Martin Malone, 2000

In 2000 Lewisham's children's homes had made national headlines after a pimp called Martin Malone was convicted for sexually exploiting young girls in care. A local news report of the trial describes how Malone made the children pass "initiation tests" which involved providing sexual services for him and his friends before he sold girls as young as 14 in red-light areas like Paddington, Streatham, and Soho. Some of the children were described as being in Malone's thrall, while others were addicted to crack cocaine. After the trial, police described him as a "sexual Fagin".

Islington, Barnado's 'child prostitution' awareness campaign, 2002

In 2002, the children's charity Barnardo's was so concerned about child prostitution, it launched a national marketing campaign which included massive billboard posters on the London Underground to raise awareness. Barnardo's did some media around this campaign, which included a project leader from Islington, North London, speaking to journalists. She said demand for their services was so high that they had to limit their work to just 13- and 14-year-old girls. At the time she said: "Social services and the police were telling us sexual exploitation wasn't happening; even though we could clearly see it was." She said the charity was deluged with referrals from all sorts of children, from those in care homes to runaways and children groomed over the internet. There were also places in London where pimps actively went out looking for kids.

Redbridge, 'Child sex ring', 2011

In Redbridge, in East London, in 2011, not long after the first grooming gangs in Rochdale were exposed, there was a trial of a suspected 'child sex ring.' The case got quite a lot of coverage, and centred around a girl in care who told the court she'd been raped and prostituted to "three or four men a day". The 17-year-old girl was one of six alleged teenage victims, two of whom were in supported living flats. The accused men were ultimately cleared of child prostitution charges, but four went down for rape and sexual assault.

Tower Hamlets, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, 2020

When the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) turned its attention to Tower Hamlets to look at organised networks of paedophiles, the inquiry identified five victims that fell within its definition. The victims included girls who reported being raped and sexually assaulted, taken to hotels for 'parties', and a 13-year-old who was taken to clubs by older men.

London-wide, HMICFRS reports, 2016-2025

Previous investigations by the Express/MyLondon found six potential cases of grooming gangs within the case studies for His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services reports on the Metropolitan Police. Victims included girls who were plied with drugs and alcohol, raped in hotel rooms by multiple men and victims who had their lives threatened.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said:"The Met takes all allegations of child sexual and criminal exploitation extremely seriously, which is why we are currently reviewing around 9,000 cases and have significantly enhanced our approach to identifying and investigating group-based offending since 2022.

"This has led to a threefold increase in solved cases of child sexual exploitation over the past year, resulting in 134 additional suspects being charged.

"Our commitment to safeguarding victims and bringing offenders to justice is why we have launched the review.

"Officers are continuing with an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse in the Hillingdon area of west London.

"This investigation commenced in 2019 after the Met received a safeguarding report.

"Specialist detectives continue to progress this complex and detailed investigation and recognise the impact on those affected. They remain committed to investigating allegations fully and securing justice."

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: "Any individuals or grooming gangs exploiting children for sex are utterly abhorrent and Sadiq wants justice for every single victim of these horrific crimes. These children have not only suffered terrible abuse at the hands of the perpetrators but have been woefully let down by the authorities meant to protect them from harm.

"Sadiq has led efforts to strengthen the protection of children from exploitation and harm in all its forms in London, including grooming gangs. Since taking office, he has ensured vital investment in specialist services to support child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation, and driven forward long-overdue reforms in the way the Met protects children. This includes specifically commissioning HMICFRS to independently inspect the Met's child protection arrangements in 2023 which has led to lasting improvements.

"The Mayor is clear that the Met must follow the evidence wherever it leads. He will continue to support and hold the Met to account to ensure it does everything possible to tackle child sexual exploitation in London, including grooming gangs."

A spokesperson for Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership said: "We were deeply saddened by 'Chloe's' tragic death in 2020. We committed to learning from Chloe's case and making sure that children and young people in care are always at the heart of decision-making.

"The Partnership commissioned a full safeguarding practice review at the time and all recommendations have since been completed. This includes improved partner working among agencies, a full programme of staff training and putting new procedures and ongoing audits in place.

"We now have improved support for children in care - with a stronger focus on mental health and identity, and a robust, multi-agency response to suicide and self-harm.

"The safeguarding practice review identified that the language used at the time did not accurately reflect that Chloe was a victim of child sexual exploitation. Since 2013, the understanding of child sexual exploitation has developed significantly and continues to evolve, as professionals work tirelessly to protect children who are targeted and harmed by others."

A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: "The safety and welfare of children and young people in our borough is of paramount importance and we take all safeguarding concerns seriously. As part of this, we have established the Family Help: Contextual Safeguarding Service which is designed to intervene at the earliest opportunity when risks are identified in a young person's life outside the home, including serious concerns such as criminal and sexual exploitation."

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: "The appalling sexual exploitation that Olivia suffered is sickening. What she endured is utterly unacceptable and reflects the devastating harm that organised exploitation inflicts on children and young people.

"All agencies that work with children must take their safeguarding responsibilities with absolute seriousness. Protecting vulnerable young people from this kind of organised abuse is one of our highest priorities, and we continue to work closely with the police and specialist partners to prevent, identify and disrupt exploitation wherever it occurs.

"Following this case, a Child Safeguarding Practice Review was commissioned by the Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership. An independent reviewer with national expertise in child sexual exploitation was appointed to identify learning and ensure that all partners strengthen how we recognise and respond to risk. The Partnership is implementing multi-agency actions to improve early identification, safety planning, and police coordination, alongside developing workforce training and trauma-informed practice.

"We remain determined to support victims and survivors, to learn from every case, and to do all we can to help bring perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice."

Islington's Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families Michelline Safi-Ngongo said: "We are absolutely committed to protecting and supporting children and young people across our borough.

"Any exploitation or abuse is deeply distressing and something we take extremely seriously. We work closely with the Metropolitan Police and other partners to tackle this issue head on, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and that survivors receive the care, protection, and long-term support they need.

"Safeguarding our young people is at the heart of everything we do, and we remain committed to keeping them safe."

A Kingston Council spokesperson said: "Kingston Council has expressed its sincere condolences to the family of 'Sylvia' following her tragic death in 2021. We acknowledge the concerning circumstances of her life as detailed in the multi-agency Safeguarding Adult Review (SAR) published by the relevant Safeguarding Adults Boards of Croydon, Bromley, and Kingston. The purpose of the SAR is to learn lessons to prevent such tragedies from happening again, and Kingston Council alongside its partners are taking forward learning to prevent similar tragedies in the future."

A statement from Hounslow Council said: "London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) works diligently with its partners to ensure children in the borough are kept safe. The 2015 edition of Hounslow Matters magazine supported the first ever national child exploitation day in March 2015, where the campaign encouraged the public to think about, spot and report the signs of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and promote a zero-tolerance policy towards adults developing inappropriate relationships with children.

"This issue of the magazine related to a proactive campaign to raise awareness in response to recommendations identified in the 'Jay Report' (2014), arising from events in Rotherham.

"The extract from the 2017 Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel report highlights the investigative actions taken by the Police and as far as the council is aware no further action was necessary in relation to any form of exploitation.

"Hounslow Council has a well-established Multi-Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) Panel which has been in place since late 2015 and is co-chaired by the police and the local authority and works in line with the Met's Child Exploitation Operating Protocol. The arrangements sit within the governance of the safeguarding children partnership to ensure strategic oversight from all multi-agency partners.

"The HSCP have a dedicated Adolescent Safeguarding Group which focuses on all safeguarding risk for young people in our borough. Please contact hscb@hounslow.gov.uk to raise any concerns.

Lewisham Council and Haringey Council declined to comment.

If you are under 18 and have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation, please enter your postcode on this site to find the nearest service that can help support you:https://www.csacentre.org.uk/find-a-support-service/

Alternatively, if you are already in contact with the police or social care they can make a referral for support to your local service on your behalf.

If you are over 18 and have experienced sexual violence or abuse, you can find out about available support services via the London Survivors Gateway here:https://survivorsgateway.london/.