Qaz
2014-11-19 22:49:30 UTC
Six men have been named, shamed and barred from contacting underage
girls in a landmark anti-exploitation case - despite there not being
enough evidence to convict them of a crime.
The injunction was won by authorities in Birmingham today against the
six men - three of whom were found with a 'vulnerable' girl in a hotel room.
They can be named as Omar Ahmed, 27, Sajid Hussain, 40, Mohammed Anjam,
31, Naseem Khan, 30, Mohammed Javed, 33, and Alam Shah, 36, after a
judge ruled it was in the public interest for their identities to be
released.
That was despite the objections of West Midlands Police - who despite
applying for the injunction, argued the men's names should be kept
secret to protect their private lives.
Even though the men have now been named, the force says it will not be
releasing their photographs for the same reason.
A spokesman said: 'We have a duty to consider the impact of releasing
the men's images on innocent family members, such as their partners and
their own young children.'
The men's names were released by Mr Justice Keehan at the High Court in
London today after an application by journalists, who argued the public
had a right to know.
He said his decision took into account it was 'their own reprehensible
conduct which has led them into this position.'
All six had been hit with injunctions after applications by Birmingham
City Council and West Midlands Police.
All six had been hit with injunctions after applications by Birmingham
City Council and West Midlands Police.
The injunctions bar them from contacting, approaching or following the
girl and from approaching 'any female under the age of 18 years, not
previously associated with him, on a public highway, common land,
wasteland, parkland, playing field, public transport stop or station.'
They must also not allow any female under the age of 18 not previously
known to them 'to enter into or remain in any private motor car or taxi
in which he is driving or travelling as a passenger.'
They were also banned from texting or contacting the girl by any means
including 'face to face contact, telephone
(mobile/landline/facetime/skype etc), text messages, msm, blackberry,
chatrooms, or other social media'.
And they are forbidden from passing on details for the girl, 'for
example name, location, address, telephone numbers' or 'incite,
encourage or facilitate the introduction of the (the girl) to any other
male.'
If the injunctions are broken, the men could be jailed for up to two
years for contempt of court.
One of the men said the proceedings were 'racist' as he left court today.
It came after social workers and police raised concerns about the
welfare of a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, who was in the care of the
local authority.
According to the council the girl went missing from care a shocking 102
times since July 2010, when she was just 13.
Between August and October this year the girl, now aged 17, was taken to
various hotels around Birmingham where she was sexually exploited.
After the council's intervention the girl, who cannot be named for legal
reasons, was taken to a secure location for her own safety.
Javed, from Tyseley, Khan, from Bordesley Green, and Shah, from Small
Heath, claimed they were doing nothing wrong when police found them in a
room at the Ibis Hotel in Birmingham with the teenager.
Named and shamed: Mr Justice Keehan ruled the public had the right to
know the six men's names
+8
Javed claimed he met the girl at petrol station in August, and was drunk
so he took her to the hotel room back and paid £40 in cash for the room.
He said nothing inappropriate happened, although they were both drinking
vodka. He then said he called his friends Khan and Shah to take him home.
But the judge said Javed's evidence was 'incredible' and he was 'plainly
lying.' He said the other two who claimed to have gone to the hotel to
take him home as a friend were also lying.
He said: 'I am satisfied all three of them were engaged in the sexual
exploitation of the girl.'
He said Javed either had been engaged in sexual activity with her, or
was planning her sexual exploitation, and brought the other two men to
the hotel room to have sex with her.
Lorna Meyer QC, for Birmingham City Council, said the council and police
had identified a 'number of individuals' found to be 'inappropriately'
in the company of the 17-year-old girl.
Lawyers thought that there was not enough evidence to secure criminal
convictions - on a beyond reasonable doubt basis - 'at the current time'.
But they thought that there was enough evidence to obtain civil court
injunctions, which rely on the less strenuous test of the balance of
probabilities.
The first injunctions were granted on a temporary basis last month.
Permanent orders against Anjam, from Aston, and Ahmed, from Yardley,
were secured on Monday.
Secured today were the injunctions on the three others and that against
Hussain, from Tyseley.
A case against four other men, who cannot yet be named, continues.
Detective Chief Superintendent Danny Long, of the West Midlands Police
Public Protection Unit, said similar measures may be used to tackle the
75 live cases of child exploitation currently being investigated in
Birmingham.
He added: 'The injunctions give us the power to help to protect young
people without putting them at the heart of a judicial process.
'Being found in a hotel room with a child is not a crime. Having a
number of a child is not a crime. Sharing a taxi with a child is not a
crime.
'But these men will not be allowed to do that.'
girls in a landmark anti-exploitation case - despite there not being
enough evidence to convict them of a crime.
The injunction was won by authorities in Birmingham today against the
six men - three of whom were found with a 'vulnerable' girl in a hotel room.
They can be named as Omar Ahmed, 27, Sajid Hussain, 40, Mohammed Anjam,
31, Naseem Khan, 30, Mohammed Javed, 33, and Alam Shah, 36, after a
judge ruled it was in the public interest for their identities to be
released.
That was despite the objections of West Midlands Police - who despite
applying for the injunction, argued the men's names should be kept
secret to protect their private lives.
Even though the men have now been named, the force says it will not be
releasing their photographs for the same reason.
A spokesman said: 'We have a duty to consider the impact of releasing
the men's images on innocent family members, such as their partners and
their own young children.'
The men's names were released by Mr Justice Keehan at the High Court in
London today after an application by journalists, who argued the public
had a right to know.
He said his decision took into account it was 'their own reprehensible
conduct which has led them into this position.'
All six had been hit with injunctions after applications by Birmingham
City Council and West Midlands Police.
All six had been hit with injunctions after applications by Birmingham
City Council and West Midlands Police.
The injunctions bar them from contacting, approaching or following the
girl and from approaching 'any female under the age of 18 years, not
previously associated with him, on a public highway, common land,
wasteland, parkland, playing field, public transport stop or station.'
They must also not allow any female under the age of 18 not previously
known to them 'to enter into or remain in any private motor car or taxi
in which he is driving or travelling as a passenger.'
They were also banned from texting or contacting the girl by any means
including 'face to face contact, telephone
(mobile/landline/facetime/skype etc), text messages, msm, blackberry,
chatrooms, or other social media'.
And they are forbidden from passing on details for the girl, 'for
example name, location, address, telephone numbers' or 'incite,
encourage or facilitate the introduction of the (the girl) to any other
male.'
If the injunctions are broken, the men could be jailed for up to two
years for contempt of court.
One of the men said the proceedings were 'racist' as he left court today.
It came after social workers and police raised concerns about the
welfare of a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, who was in the care of the
local authority.
According to the council the girl went missing from care a shocking 102
times since July 2010, when she was just 13.
Between August and October this year the girl, now aged 17, was taken to
various hotels around Birmingham where she was sexually exploited.
After the council's intervention the girl, who cannot be named for legal
reasons, was taken to a secure location for her own safety.
Javed, from Tyseley, Khan, from Bordesley Green, and Shah, from Small
Heath, claimed they were doing nothing wrong when police found them in a
room at the Ibis Hotel in Birmingham with the teenager.
Named and shamed: Mr Justice Keehan ruled the public had the right to
know the six men's names
+8
Javed claimed he met the girl at petrol station in August, and was drunk
so he took her to the hotel room back and paid £40 in cash for the room.
He said nothing inappropriate happened, although they were both drinking
vodka. He then said he called his friends Khan and Shah to take him home.
But the judge said Javed's evidence was 'incredible' and he was 'plainly
lying.' He said the other two who claimed to have gone to the hotel to
take him home as a friend were also lying.
He said: 'I am satisfied all three of them were engaged in the sexual
exploitation of the girl.'
He said Javed either had been engaged in sexual activity with her, or
was planning her sexual exploitation, and brought the other two men to
the hotel room to have sex with her.
Lorna Meyer QC, for Birmingham City Council, said the council and police
had identified a 'number of individuals' found to be 'inappropriately'
in the company of the 17-year-old girl.
Lawyers thought that there was not enough evidence to secure criminal
convictions - on a beyond reasonable doubt basis - 'at the current time'.
But they thought that there was enough evidence to obtain civil court
injunctions, which rely on the less strenuous test of the balance of
probabilities.
The first injunctions were granted on a temporary basis last month.
Permanent orders against Anjam, from Aston, and Ahmed, from Yardley,
were secured on Monday.
Secured today were the injunctions on the three others and that against
Hussain, from Tyseley.
A case against four other men, who cannot yet be named, continues.
Detective Chief Superintendent Danny Long, of the West Midlands Police
Public Protection Unit, said similar measures may be used to tackle the
75 live cases of child exploitation currently being investigated in
Birmingham.
He added: 'The injunctions give us the power to help to protect young
people without putting them at the heart of a judicial process.
'Being found in a hotel room with a child is not a crime. Having a
number of a child is not a crime. Sharing a taxi with a child is not a
crime.
'But these men will not be allowed to do that.'