Survivors of an Oxford grooming gang have revealed they continue to encounter men who sexually abused them while they were underage, and who have not faced justice. These perpetrators are still living in the city, a fact that causes ongoing distress for those who were victimized.

This revelation comes as a national inquiry has been launched by the government to examine why vulnerable children were not adequately protected across England and Wales. The inquiry will investigate potential contributing factors, including societal attitudes towards the victims and the ethnicity of the offenders.

One survivor, identified as Sarah, who was subjected to sexual abuse and drug-induced exploitation from the age of 11, told BBC Panorama that seeing her abusers in everyday places like shops and petrol stations is a constant torment. "Everywhere you can imagine, you'll see a man that's done something," she stated. Sarah believes hundreds of perpetrators remain free. While three men were convicted and jailed for abusing her in 2020, she feels the sentences were insufficient given the lifelong impact of the abuse.

Another survivor, Chloe, also reported seeing some of her abusers in her local area, describing the encounters as deeply unsettling. "It's difficult because this is where I live, it's where I grew up," she explained. The emotional toll of these sightings leaves her feeling "sick" and "cold."

An ex-police detective who previously led investigations into Oxford's grooming gangs corroborated the survivors' claims, agreeing that a significant number of offenders have not been brought to justice. The gangs were active in exploiting underage girls in several UK towns and cities, including Oxford, primarily between the 1990s and 2010s. In Oxford, many perpetrators were identified as older men of Pakistani heritage.

The context of these cases echoes concerns raised in other cities, such as Rotherham, where police faced accusations of inaction due to fears of appearing racist. However, a serious case review in Oxford found no evidence that such concerns hindered the investigation. The government's current national inquiry aims to address systemic failures that allowed these abuses to occur and to identify measures to prevent future exploitation.

Sarah's experience highlights the profound and lasting damage caused by the grooming gangs. Despite testifying against her abusers and their subsequent convictions, she has struggled with drug addiction and periods of incarceration throughout her adult life, stating, "They've taken my life."

While some survivors have pursued legal action, others, like Chloe, have chosen not to engage with the police investigation process, citing the difficulty of confronting their abusers within the community where they live. The ongoing presence of these individuals in public spaces underscores the challenges survivors face in their healing and recovery process, and raises questions about the effectiveness of justice and support systems for victims of such organized abuse.