Four women have told the BBC they were sexually and criminally exploited by drug gangs as teenagers, and that police and other authorities failed to protect them or properly investigate their allegations.

The women, who waived their anonymity, spoke to the BBC documentary Britain’s Forgotten Girls. Their accounts span from 2002 to last year and describe similar patterns of grooming, coercion, sexual abuse and forced involvement in drug-related activity.

Christine, who was 13 when she began messaging a man she believed was a teenage boy, said she was later used to courier drugs and subjected to sexual and physical abuse. She said the abuse continued for more than eight years.

Annie, from south-east London, said three older boys gained her trust before getting her drunk, repeatedly raping her and threatening to share photographs of the abuse unless she had sex with more people.

Holly, from Manchester, said she was recruited by a gang as a child and transported drugs around the UK at the age of 14. She also described being sexually assaulted by gang members.

Violet, who became involved with a south London gang at 13, said she reported repeated rape and sexual abuse. She said the men were arrested for drug offences but that police told her they had “bigger fish to fry” when she asked about the rape investigation.

Allegations of police failures

All four women said they believed their accounts were not taken seriously by police.

Christine said that when she was 15, investigators focused on obtaining information about drug dealing after social services alerted police to her case, rather than investigating the abuse she described.

Holly recalled approaching police while fleeing a sexual assault, covered in cuts and bruises. She said an officer accused her of seeking a “free lift home”. Annie said she was told her attackers would not be prosecuted because there was no realistic chance of a conviction.

None of the women interviewed by the BBC has seen anyone prosecuted for the abuse they say they suffered.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council described the women’s experiences as “devastating”. Acting Chief Constable Rebecca Riggs said police had not always got it right and expressed regret if victims felt they had not been listened to, believed or given the response they needed.

Inquiry into exploitation

Connie Muttock of the Centre for Young Lives said girls were brought into drug gangs to generate money and were also sexually abused by gang members. The National Crime Agency has said gangs may exploit girls because they believe women are less likely to be suspected of, or stopped and searched for, dealing drugs.

A 2012 inquiry by the Children’s Commissioner for England estimated that 16,500 children were at risk of abuse from grooming groups or criminal gangs. Those involved in the inquiry said its findings did not produce the response they deserved.

A 2025 government audit of group-based sexual abuse and exploitation in England and Wales reportedly found that authorities often failed to identify children experiencing both criminal and sexual exploitation. The BBC understands that the exploitation of girls by drug gangs will now be examined by the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, established in response to the audit.

The four women have since rebuilt their lives. Annie runs an organisation supporting girls and young women, Holly researches child criminal exploitation and the care system, and Christine has written a book about her experiences.