Jack Straw criticised for 'easy meat' comments on abuse

Former Home Secretary Jack Straw has been accused of "stereotyping" after suggesting some men of Pakistani origin see white girls as "easy meat". Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the home affairs select committee, said it was wrong to stereotype an entire community and a proper inquiry was needed. On Friday, Mohammed Liaqat, 28, and Abid Saddique, 27, were jailed at Nottingham Crown Court for raping and sexually abusing several girls aged between 12 and 18, often after giving them alcohol or drugs. Mr Straw told the BBC's Newsnight there was a "specific problem" in some areas and called on the Pakistani community to be "more open" about the abuse. Mr Vaz, who said he represented many men of Pakistani origin in his Leicester East constituency, told BBC Radio 4's Today: "What I don't think we can do is say that this is a cultural problem”. Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Straw was right to say there must be zero tolerance of criminal activity against young girls in any community. He added: “That said, we've got to be careful about generalisations about particular communities. As Jack himself said, we find sexual crimes committed by people of all backgrounds”.  Ann Cryer, a former Labour MP for Keighley, had been made aware of a problem in her constituency in 2003 after she was approached by about six mothers who said their daughters were being groomed for sex by Pakistani men.

Reaction:

I don’t think that it was smart of the Home Secretary Jack Straw to stereotype the Pakistani community. Maybe it is true that Pakistani men only rape young white girls but they are not the only ones who do this. I think that instead of making this accusations he should do something to protect this young girls from being raped. And if he is convince that there is a “specific problem” in some areas of the country then he should take action. Men who does something like this are criminals and I don’t think this has something to do with their religion or culture. I Also think that parents must take better care of their children they must talk to them, know their friends and not let them go out at night alone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12142177