I can't speak for what you are dealing with in England, but social problems continue to change focus. My guess is that the problems you are currently facing existed in the past - but were overlooked or denied.

Here in the United States, if you spoke to most people in the 1920's they would have said that we did not have a civil rights issue - but thanks to people who kept fighting and brought the issue to daylight, the problems were and are still being tackled.

If you truly examine most social problems, you will find a history that is longer than you would think - all it takes are a few people to do something about it.