Suella Braverman raises Rotherham grooming gang allegations against police officers in PMQs
A former home secretary has raised allegations by a Rotherham grooming gangs victim in Parliament, who claims she was raped by a police officer and there was further misconduct by a separate colleague who is still serving.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Suella Braverman called for Sir Keir Starmer to meet herself, sexual abuse victim Elizabeth* and other survivors.
Mrs Braverman, who recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform, met the survivor in Rotherham when she was serving as home secretary.
She told the House of Commons: “Whilst her first rapist was convicted and sentenced, Asghar Bostan, she was subsequently shockingly allegedly abused by police officers serving in South Yorkshire Police. One of those officers remains on active service today.”
It is understood that Elizabeth’s complaint about the serving officer relates to misconduct in public office, while a separate officer was accused of rape.
Mrs Braverman said that the victim had reported these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, as part of its Operation Linden investigation, however she says “none of them were followed up”.
“Will the Prime Minister meet to Elizabeth, rape gang survivors and myself to commit that those who committed and covered up those abhorrent offences are put behind bars where they belong,” she asked.
Sir Keir said he was “deeply concerned” by the allegations, and added: “I will make sure there is a relevant meeting and follow up in relation to those concerns.”
Mrs Braverman told The Yorkshire Post: “The police, IOPC and government must take action to bring the perpetrators of this evil to justice. Whoever they may be.
“Elizabeth needs justice not just for herself, but because she represents thousands of girls who were abused, ignored, and betrayed by the very institutions meant to protect them.”
Claims have been repeatedly made that appear to implicate officers in involvement with grooming gangs in South Yorkshire.
During trials at Sheffield Crown Court, allegations were made that officers had passed information and drugs to a Rotherham child grooming ring and acted to protect serial child abusers Arshid and Basharat Hussain from prosecution.
A recent BBC News investigation claimed that five victims from Rotherham were abused by police officers.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s Operation Linden found 14 officers had a case to answer for over misconduct or gross misconduct, but said there was no evidence of corruption.
A SYP spokesperson said: “We are acutely aware of how difficult it can be to report such crimes, particularly when the suspects are serving or former police officers, but we are steadfastly committed to securing justice.
“In August 2025, the NCA published information relating to this matter. The allegations of child sexual abuse relate to former officers. No sexual allegations were recorded against any serving officer.
“These matters are subject of an independent inquiry by the IOPC so we are not able to comment further but we want to reassure all of those affected that we will fully cooperate with all inquiries. “
An IOPC spokesperson added: “Our priority from the very start of Operation Linden was always the welfare of the survivors, who showed incredible bravery in coming forward and throughout the whole process.
“We have searched our records and are not aware of reports of any identified officers sexually abusing children being raised by the victim-survivors we had contact with during Operation Linden.”
This is a pseudonym