Hamid Safi

Hamid Safi, a 22-year-old illegal immigrant with no fixed address, participated in the Rochdale gang's child sexual exploitation activities, which involved grooming and abusing vulnerable young girls in Greater Manchester. The group lured victims, including a 13-year-old, with enticements like food, alcohol, and drugs, subjecting them to repeated sexual assaults and trafficking for exploitation.

Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 9 May 2012, Safi was convicted of conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with children and trafficking for sexual exploitation. He received four years for conspiracy and a concurrent one-year term for trafficking, as part of the nine men's collective 77-year sentences. The judge condemned the gang's motivations as lust and greed, dehumanising the victims.

• Safi's role supported the conspiracy and trafficking elements, enabling the passing of girls among the group.
• The investigation by Greater Manchester Police uncovered a network affecting multiple victims, with initial complaints mishandled in 2008.
• Post-trial, the force committed to further arrests amid 47 identified potential victims.

Public discourse following the verdicts included Martin Narey's observations on the prevalence of Asian men in street grooming cases in northern towns, balanced by warnings against community stigmatisation from figures like Keith Vaz. The police apologised for past failures, referring the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for review. Detective Inspector Michael Sanderson criticised the offenders' remorselessness and the trauma inflicted on victims reliving their experiences in court.

The Rochdale case illuminated failures in child safeguarding, prompting calls for systemic reforms. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre highlighted the organised exploitation, noting involvement of Asian males here but emphasising its cross-cultural nature.