Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

2. They Groom Everyone

Episode 2 of 6

Journalist Alex Renton tries to track down a former member of the Paedophile Information Exchange and he starts looking into the group's origins in the 1970s.

Alex Renton has letters and documentation passed to him by a secret source. He tries to track down a former member of the defunct pro-paedophile group, the Paedophile Information Exchange, or PIE.

He delves into the group's origins and discovers that figures within PIE didn鈥檛 just groom the people around them, they attempted to groom whole movements.

The group formed in 1974; a time when marginalised groups were campaigning for equality and legal change. PIE took heed, that鈥檚 what they wanted.

So they aligned themselves with minority rights groups. And, these groups, whose ethos was to be open hearted, trusting - bought into it. They were fooled.

Alex Renton speaks with men who were part of gay youth groups in the 1970s that were targeted and manipulated by PIE and its members.

And he makes a breakthrough with the membership list.

Presenter: Alex Renton
Producer: Caitlin Smith
Executive Producers: Gail Champion and Gillian Wheelan
Story Consultants: Jack Kibble-White and Kirsty Williams
Sound design: Jon Nicholls
Theme Tune: Jeremy Warmsley

Details of organisations offering information and support for victims of child sexual abuse are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Release date:

28 minutes

On radio

Next Wednesday 09:30

Broadcast

  • Next Wednesday 09:30

Podcast