Children’s Commissioner for England releases report on child sexual exploitation

Date: 16th January 2014
Category: Access to appropriate information

The Commissioner has concluded an extensive and rigorous two-year Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups last November by releasing a final report.

It is the first comprehensive assessment in the UK of this particular form of sexual abuse - and potentially in the world. The report reflects on a journey into the world of violence, degradation, humiliation and abuse endured by the children and young people who are victims of sexual exploitation.

The report demonstrates the true scale of sexual exploitation and violence that children and young people are suffering from perpetrators operating in both gangs and groups.

The Children's Commissioner for England publishes, in this report, 'See Me, Hear Me': a new evidence-based Framework for protecting children and young people from sexual exploitation. It brings the child's voice right into the heart of the child protection process.

The report explains that it is time to change culture and practice so that children are no longer invisible - silent victims that no one sees and no one hears.

One of the key findings in the report is that serious gaps remain in the knowledge, practice and services required to tackle child sexual exploitation. There are pockets of good practice, but much still needs to be done to prevent thousands more children falling victim.