Latest news with #HollyArcher
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- The Guardian
Grooming gang survivors make plea to ‘put politics aside' ahead of new inquiry
The political 'tug-of-war with vulnerable women' abused by grooming gangs must stop ahead of a new national inquiry into the crimes, survivors have told the Guardian. Holly Archer and Scarlett Jones, two survivors who played a key role in a 'gold-standard' local inquiry into the crime in Telford, have urged politicians and those without experience of abuse to allow women to shape the investigation. 'We have to put politics aside when it comes to child sexual exploitation, we have to stop this tug-of-war with vulnerable women,' said Archer, author of I Never Gave My Consent: A Schoolgirl's Life Inside the Telford Sex Ring. 'There are so many voices that need to be heard. There's some voices, though, that need to step away,' she said. 'We can do it, let us do it – we don't need you to speak on our behalf.' Jones, who works with Archer at the Holly Project, a support service helping survivors of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and their families, added: 'There are so many people out there at this moment exploiting the exploited – it's happening all the time.' The government announced on Monday that police would collect ethnicity data for all cases of child sexual abuse, after a report from Louise Casey found evidence of 'over-representation' of Asian and Pakistani heritage men among suspects in local data – collected in Greater Manchester, West and South Yorkshire. But she also urged the public to 'keep calm' over the ethnicity of grooming gang offenders, saying police data from one region suggested that the race of child abuse suspects was proportional with the local population. Archer, who founded the Holly Project, said the collection of ethnicity data of offenders had to improve but also urged those discussing child sexual exploitation not to rely on stereotypes surrounding perpetrators of CSE or their victims. While she was groomed from the age of 14 by men of Pakistani origin, the majority of men who went on to 'buy' her and rape her as a child were Chinese. Jones, author of Just a Girl, said she was first abused within her own white family, she was then enticed into a grooming gang. 'Nobody wants to know about that, because that doesn't meet their narrative,' said Archer. 'You're told that you're just not relevant, that it didn't really happen to you anyway. You're a liar. You're a fake person.' Archer said she no longer used social media after facing threats. 'I've been called a paedophile myself, a paedophile enabler, a grooming gang supporter. They said they hope my daughter gets raped. It's just constant.' She also described being given a leaflet by the far-right Britain First political movement in Telford after her book was published in 2016. 'They handed me leaflets that had quotes from my own book in them,' she said. 'They didn't know it was me, and they were telling me I was very pro what they were doing. It was insane.' Archer and Jones, who both use pseudonyms and are not pictured to protect themselves and their families, both welcomed the recommendations made by Casey, particularly the involvement of the National Crime Agency (NCA), which will lead a national push to reopen historic group-based child sexual abuse cases. All well as making sure the inquiry was victim-led, it also had to establish a definition for child sexual exploitation, which could differ in different agencies and police forces, said the women. The inquiry will see five existing local inquiries into grooming gangs coordinated by an independent commission with full statutory inquiry powers, which Archer said would provide much-needed accountability. 'It is really important that the localised aspect is not lost,' she said. In Telford, where a three-year independent inquiry into the scale of CSE concluded in 2022 that hundreds of children were sexually exploited over decades, victims had been consulted from the beginning, added Jones. Survivors, including the Holly Project, then helped the council to implement changes. 'At a national level, I don't want them to lose the part where survivors are actually the people telling them what needs to be done,' she said. The pair are both critical of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse lead by Prof Alexis Jay, which Jones described as 'absolutely pointless'. 'Years later, nothing has been done, none of the recommendations have been implemented,' she said. 'The worry is that that is what will happen again.' Above all, the pair want to see a shift in the national conversation so that children are always treated as victims, and not seen – as they were – as complicit in their own abuse. 'We need one statutory procedure that says, if a child is suspected to be at risk of exploitation, we are going to wrap care around them and their family to make sure that they are safe,' said Archer. 'We need survivors to feel safe enough just to live their life, be happy and know that they're worth having that happiness.' In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Telford child sex victims 'not surprised' by review findings
Victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Telford say they are not surprised by the findings of a review into abuse carried out by grooming gangs in England and Casey's audit found the ethnicity of people involved was "shied away from" by authorities, which meant the scale of the issue could not be properly Holly Archer, Kate Elysia and Scarlett Jones said they were seen "as a problem" at the time which was something that had to welcomed a national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, adding that survivors' experience had to be "at the heart of it all the way through". "I'm not surprised by anything that I've read in her report," campaigner Ms Archer, who was raped in Telford when she was a teenager, told BBC Radio Shropshire."And I think as a society, not just in terms of professionals but the community in general, the way we were seen, not as children but as a problem, is something that I'd like to see changed for the future."The government asked Baroness Casey to carry out the audit, examining existing data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse, in January. Her key findings prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to announce a national inquiry, saying he accepted the reports Elysia said while she was glad there was to be one, she was quite angry it was not done earlier and the government had to be pushed to said she was also worried for victims who had to revisit their traumatic experiences. Ms Jones said the only way for change to happen and to "make the recommendations meaningful is to have survivor input".She agreed the collecting of data was flawed with ethnicity not recorded in two-thirds of cases, and questioned why the reporting of Asian grooming gangs and white ones was different. "If you're going to collect data then lets collect it all together, lets stop reporting as different things when actually they're all the same," she also needed to be prepared "to take that challenge on", Ms Archer of grooming gangs 'shied away from', Casey report says'Little people can make big waves' - sex abuse survivorTown now 'admirable model' in tackling child sex abuseBaroness Casey noted how victims had been referred to by some authorities at the time as the problem and were blamed for what Elysia said she was "absolutely disgusted" with the way adults in authority had treated the child victims."I was one of those once, and now I'm an adult and I also work for services and I can't believe people have been ignored, children have been ignored and treated the way that they have been treated," she said people in the authorities at the time should have done more."They should be the ones who are able to step up and realise they should be doing the right thing."Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said between 800 to 1000 cases will be reopened as part of the Ms Jones and Ms Archer said it must not lose sight of "local need" and the role Telford played so they are not "swallowed up" with other areas and what went wrong was heard. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The best of British runner Holly Archer in images
The best of British runner Holly Archer in images Holly Archer stepped onto the international stage back in 2021, earning the silver medal at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships. Now, she's back in the spotlight after completing the London Marathon in an impressive 2 hours and 39 minutes — good enough to finish in the top four among British runners in the women's elite category. While many focused on her race wear, the first-time effort has been the inspiring tale, with Archer noting on her Instagram: "I came for a time, and I fell short. I also came to NOT give up, and I absolutely didn't." British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer British runner Holly Archer
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Where are her clothes?': Holly Archer shuts down backlash over London marathon outfit
Marathon Achievement Overshadowed by Outfit Criticism British middle-distance runner Holly Archer completed her first-ever marathon at the 2025 TCS London Marathon with a strong time of 2 hours and 39 minutes. The 31-year-old, who won silver in the 1500m at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships, finished as the fourth British woman in the elite category. The April 27 event saw a record 56,640 runners cross the finish line. However, instead of her athletic performance making headlines, much of the online attention focused on her race-day attire, professional running briefs known in the industry as 'run buns.' Social media commenters flooded Archer's post-race video with remarks questioning her outfit. Operation Sindoor IC-814 hijacking mastermind Abdul Rauf Azhar killed in Op Sindoor Pahalgam attack: India flays Pak for opposing TRF mention in UN statement Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said Some said she looked 'uncomfortable,' while others compared the briefs to a bikini. One user asked, 'Where's her clothes?' and another mocked, 'There's lots of shops in London you should check them out they have loads of clothes.' Archer Responds to Backlash with Defiance In response, Archer posted a follow-up video on TikTok sarcastically asking, 'Should I have worn a tracksuit?' She also addressed the weather conditions during the race, noting it was around 75°F (24°C) with 78% humidity — conditions that justified wearing minimal, breathable gear. Frustrated by the focus on her appearance, Archer responded bluntly: 'Fu*k the lot of yeehh? Give me a break!' Despite criticism, she proudly reflected on the experience on Instagram , calling it 'crazy' and unforgettable. 'The crowds, the noise, the energy, it's something I'll never forget,' she wrote. Acknowledging that she didn't meet her target time, Archer added, 'My time wasn't what I came here to do, BUT … before we judge, it was HOT. Bloody hot!' Double Standards and Online Support The backlash highlighted the double standards female athletes still face. While Archer's outfit aligns with what women in elite track and long-distance running have worn for decades, it became a focal point for criticism. One comment read: 'Crazy how the guys can do this not in a bikini.' Another implied men perform better because they wear more clothes. Supporters quickly rallied behind Archer. 'Anyone moaning about what you're wearing doesn't understand the magnitude of running a marathon in 2 and a half hours,' one fan wrote. Another added, 'As if you've ran a marathon in that incredible time and people are choosing to comment on your clothing… Girl you're amazing and I'm inspired.' Others praised her fitness: 'If I had abs like yours I would wear that daily. Not just on race days.' One user offered genuine curiosity: 'What is the reason for the bikini-like bottoms… why are they better than running shorts?' A Broader Issue in Women's Sport Archer's experience fits into a broader discussion about gender bias in athletics . Despite progress, societal expectations about women's appearances persist. According to 2023 data, 97% of women believe they are judged on how they look, and 61% have received negative comments or abuse about their appearance. In closing her Instagram post, Archer emphasized her mindset: 'I came for a time, and I fell short. I also came to NOT give up, and I absolutely didn't.' Her performance, determination, and response to critics reinforce her status not only as an elite athlete but also as a voice against outdated norms in sport.
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
British marathon runner Holly Archer responds to critics who took aim at her event attire
Recommended Videos Published May 7, 2025 10:04pm EDT Holly Archer completed the London Marathon in less than three hours. But before she crossed the finish line in 2 hours and 39 minutes, Archer contended with some unexpected commentary related to her appearance. Archer appeared to wear a pair of running briefs as she ran the race, which apparently grabbed some fans' attention during the 26-mile event. A video shared to Archer's social media platform was inundated with comments. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Some social media users claimed the 31-year-old seemed "uncomfortable," while others argued elements of the outfit closely resembled a woman's swimsuit. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Archer caught wind of the chatter and responded to critics by asking, "Should I have worn a tracksuit?" Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
