Schoolgirls ‘lured away and corrupted’ by adult grooming gang

Schoolgirls are being “lured away” from their parents and schools by a gang of adult men who are “corrupting them in a myriad of ways”, police have warned.

At least seven teenage girls and one boy have gone missing in the last two weeks, in cases being investigated in relation to what police say is a growing problem.

The teens have all since been reunited with their families, but investigating officers believe they have uncovered an “organised group” of adults which is “actively preying on and enticing” underage girls, through messages to their phones.

One 29-year-old man has already been arrested for attempted kidnapping, and he and any associates will be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law”, the RCIPS insisted.

“This type of behaviour is unacceptable and should not be tolerated”, said Superintendent Roje Williams, calling the incidents “base and malevolent” and evidence of a “concerning moral breakdown” in society.

The man was arrested following reports received on 22 Feb. of three missing teenage girls.

An RCIPS school liaison officer discovered messages from a man to a girl, asking to meet in a park in George Town.

The man was intercepted at the park by RCIPS officers, and arrested for attempted kidnapping under Section 218b of the Penal Code.

Police then searched a nearby property and found the three missing girls.

An RCIPS statement explained: “Investigations into the matter suggest that the man who was arrested was part of an organised group of adults actively preying on and enticing female juveniles through written communication, and luring them away from their schools and their guardians.”

In the past week, a further five young people, four girls and a boy, have gone missing and have been found, and officers believe adults grooming children was a factor in at least some, if not all, of those cases, too.

Police ask that anyone with information about the people involved, or anyone who believes a young person – male or female – may have been targeted by this type of grooming activity, contact protective services on 649-9185.

Chief Superintendent Brad Ebanks said, “We are seeing a growing issue of adults preying on underage children, more predominantly adult men luring female juveniles from school, or after school and away from their guardians, and corrupting them in a myriad of ways.

“We must make it a priority to protect our young people, and the vulnerable persons in our communities.

“One way we can do this as adults responsible for young persons is to be alert to the interactions young people are having over their phones, and the company they keep, and by ensuring young persons have reliable, safe forms of transport to and from school each day.”

To underscore their warning to the public that any grooming activity will be met with the full force of the law, police have issued a list of grooming offences and their associated jail terms.

Taking a person under 16 from lawful care: four years in jail
A person who takes an unmarried girl under 16 away from her father, mother or other person having the lawful care of her, and against the will of such father, mother or other person.

Sexual communication with a child: six years in jail
Where a person over 18, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, (a) knowingly engages in communication of a sexual nature with a child under 16; or (b) encourages a child under 16 to make or engage in a communication that is sexual or relates to a sexual activity.

Arranging to meet a child following sexual communication: six years in jail
Where a person over 18 communicates with a child under 16 on one or more than one occasion and that communication is sexual in nature or is intended to encourage communication that is sexual or relates to a sexual activity, and subsequently that person (a) arranges to meet the child; or (b) travels with the intention of meeting the child within the Islands or outside the Islands, for the purpose of the commission of an activity that is sexual in nature.

Meeting a child following sexual communication: six years in jail
Where a person over 18 communicates with a child under 16 on one or more than one occasion and that communication is sexual in nature or is intended to encourage communication that is sexual or relates to a sexual activity and subsequently that person (a) intentionally meets the child; and (b) intends during or after the meeting to do anything which if done would involve the commission of an act of a sexual nature.

Procuration of a child for a sexual activity: eight years in jail
Where a person over 18 engages in any conduct with intent to procure a child under the age of 16, to do anything which if done would involve or lead to the commission of an act of a sexual nature.

Anyone with information about the people involved, or anyone who believes a young person – male or female – may have been targeted by this type of grooming activity, is asked to contact protective services on 649-9185.