Petition · Home Office
Do not describe sexual abuse of children as "grooming" by "grooming gangs"
Closed
241 signatures
What the petition asks
I want the Government and Parliament to stop using the words "grooming" and "grooming gangs". I feel they are euphemisms being used in official publications to describe horrible, violent sexual abuse of children including rape, torture, kidnapping and imprisonment.
I think that the use of euphemisms to describe criminal offences does considerable harm. A 12-year-old child who has been raped may not think she has been "groomed".
Timeline
| 25 Mar 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 25 Sep 2025 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
241
Status
Closed
Department
Home Office
Opened
25 Mar 2025
Closed
25 Sep 2025
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 7 Aug 2026.