Hull women tell child sexual abuse inquiry they were exploited and failed by police
Women from Hull have had their cases heard by the national child sexual abuse inquiry after saying they were exploited by grooming gangs and failed by police.
How it was covered
- Sky News was the only channel found covering it, concentrating on victim testimony and police and care-system failures in Hull.
- Channel 5, BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4 and ITV: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Sky News has spoken to three young women from Hull who claim they were sexually exploited by grooming gangs and seriously let down by police. The women, still in their early 20s, told the channel that their abuse happened in childhood, and Sky News said their stories were still capable of shocking an inquiry team that had already heard much.
Sky News reported that a grooming gang panel led by Anne Longfield arrived in Hull and asked the channel to introduce it to three women whose cases Sky News had investigated in Humberside. The report by home editor Jason Farrell said their experiences were indescribable and unimaginable, and that the women had a range of ideas about how the system had failed them and had to change.
One woman, Anna, kept diaries about her abusers as a teenager. Sky News quoted her writing: "Bitten, hit, slapped, dragged by legs, rape. I can't write anymore yet, too fresh." The report said Anna later discovered Sarah in the grip of some of the same child rapists, while Amber was failed time and again by the care system and preyed on by multiple men across the country.
Sky News said one woman told the channel she was targeted by multiple men across the country, and another said crucial evidence that could have helped her case was lost. The women hope the national child sexual abuse inquiry will finally mean justice and that those responsible will be held accountable.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A grooming gang panel led by Anne Longfield visited Hull and asked Sky News to introduce it to three women whose cases the channel had investigated. | |
| The women's cases are being investigated as part of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse. | |
| Women from Hull alleged to Sky News that they were sexually exploited by grooming gangs and failed by police. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News built its coverage around first-hand testimony from three young women and framed their cases as evidence of systemic failure. It gave the story a strong victim-centred tone, with a warning about descriptions and photographs of sexual abuse. The report also highlighted the inquiry panel's visit to Hull and the involvement of Anne Longfield.
- “Sky News has spoken to a group of young women from Hull who claim they were sexually exploited by grooming gangs and seriously let down by police.”
- “Their stories are hard to hear and now they are being investigated as part of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse.”
- “Still in their early 20s, the abuse of their childhood not so distant.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.