Solicitor and managing director Marcus Johnstone has given an exclusive interview to the Daily Mail, discussing the grooming gangs scandal and the changing nature of offending in organised child sexual abuse.
Speaking to the MailOnline's home affairs correspondent Rory Tingle, Marcus said that the phenomena of organised sex abuse in towns like Telford and Rochdale are 'not just ongoing, but increasing', adding that the methods used by alleged offenders have significantly evolved.
Whereas offending traditionally took place through physical 'grooming', where alleged abusers would seek to coerce vulnerable young people on the streets, social media and other online forums are now typically used by organised gangs to access and manipulate children.
'Grooming is taking place online rather than in the street, although there is an overlap as the groomers will [usually] arrange to meet the victim in real life,' Marcus said.
'And the fact that this process takes place over the internet makes it much harder for police to detect, which is concerning.'
Questioned as to ethnic patterns in offending, Marcus explained that certain sexual offences generally have distinct demographic trends, noting the differences in organised, gang-related sexual abuse, and sexual offences carried out by individuals alone.
You can read the full, exclusive interview by accessing our press and media portal.