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Plan to tackle child sexual exploitation | Plan to tackle child sexual exploitation |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The problem of under-18s in England being groomed for sexual activity takes place "in far greater numbers than was ever imagined", the government warns. | The problem of under-18s in England being groomed for sexual activity takes place "in far greater numbers than was ever imagined", the government warns. |
Ministers say gifts such as money, food, drugs or alcohol are often used as a means of coercion. | Ministers say gifts such as money, food, drugs or alcohol are often used as a means of coercion. |
They say robust strategies are needed to ensure children are not sexually exploited by gangs or individuals. | They say robust strategies are needed to ensure children are not sexually exploited by gangs or individuals. |
Children's Minister Tim Loughton is launching a plan to make sure agencies work together to tackle the problem. | Children's Minister Tim Loughton is launching a plan to make sure agencies work together to tackle the problem. |
The Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan will bring together the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, local safeguarding children boards and support organisations like Rape Crisis. | The Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan will bring together the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, local safeguarding children boards and support organisations like Rape Crisis. |
The plan will also look at improving sex and relationships education in schools and helping parents know what tell-tale signs to watch out for. | The plan will also look at improving sex and relationships education in schools and helping parents know what tell-tale signs to watch out for. |
In October, the deputy children's commissioner, Sue Berelowitz, launched a two-year inquiry into the scale and scope of sexual exploitation by gangs. | In October, the deputy children's commissioner, Sue Berelowitz, launched a two-year inquiry into the scale and scope of sexual exploitation by gangs. |
Ms Berelowitz said thousands of children could be affected and the issue reached across race and class. | Ms Berelowitz said thousands of children could be affected and the issue reached across race and class. |
Launching the action plan on Wednesday, Mr Loughton said: "This country has to wake up to the fact that children are being sexually abused in far greater numbers than was ever imagined. | Launching the action plan on Wednesday, Mr Loughton said: "This country has to wake up to the fact that children are being sexually abused in far greater numbers than was ever imagined. |
"It could be going on in every type of community and in every part of the country. | "It could be going on in every type of community and in every part of the country. |
"Too many local areas have failed to uncover the true extent of child sexual exploitation in their communities and failed to properly support victims and their families. | "Too many local areas have failed to uncover the true extent of child sexual exploitation in their communities and failed to properly support victims and their families. |
"Child sexual exploitation is child abuse, it is not good enough that some local areas don't recognise it as an issue. | "Child sexual exploitation is child abuse, it is not good enough that some local areas don't recognise it as an issue. |
"This is an extremely serious crime and must be treated as such, with the perpetrators pursued more vigorously." | "This is an extremely serious crime and must be treated as such, with the perpetrators pursued more vigorously." |
Getting to court | |
Mr Loughton said it must be made easier for young victims and their families to go to court. | Mr Loughton said it must be made easier for young victims and their families to go to court. |
"It is worrying that many incidents go unreported because victims are unwilling to come forward," he said. | "It is worrying that many incidents go unreported because victims are unwilling to come forward," he said. |
"The action plan is a big step forward and looks at sexual exploitation from the perspective of the young person, analysing what can go wrong and what should happen at every stage." | "The action plan is a big step forward and looks at sexual exploitation from the perspective of the young person, analysing what can go wrong and what should happen at every stage." |
The children's charity Barnardo's, which is itself campaigning for a greater understanding of this issue, welcomed the action plan. | |
Chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said: "We cannot underestimate the scale of this sickening abuse and the damage it is doing to thousands of girls and boys across the UK. | |
"At Barnardo's we hear so many heartbreaking stories which are every parent's worst nightmare. | |
"The government's action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation will lay down the gauntlet for the criminal justice system to bring more prosecutions of this type of sex offender - but we need urgent action for the innocents who are groomed and exploited for sex." |