Racism fears 'left Asian gang free to rape girls'

Eight of nine men convicted of a variety of offences connected with a child sexual exploitqation ring: (L-R top row) Adil Khan, Mohammed Amin, Abdul Rauf, Mohammed Sajid (L-R bottom row) Abdul Aziz, Abdul Qayyum, Hamid Safi and Kabeer Hassan. The ninth man convicted could not be identified for legal reasons. Photo: Greater Manchester Police

Police and social workers in England have been accused of failing to investigate a South Asian paedophile gang for fear of being perceived as racist, leaving the men free to prey on up to 50 white girls.

Nine men from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, were convicted of abusing five vulnerable teenagers after plying them with alcohol and small sums of money.

The true number of victims who were "passed around" by the gang was likely to have been nearer 50, police said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/racism-fears-left-asian-gang-free-to-rape-girls-20120509-1ycfu.html#ixzz1uOyzaAjl