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10/06/2013
Agencies Failing Sexually Exploited Children
A group of MPs have warned that child sexual exploitation is a "large-scale nationwide problem".
Following a number of high-profile trials, the Home Affairs Committee said that police forces, social services and the Crown Prosecution Service must bear responsibility for failings.
According to the BBC, an investigation by the committee was launched after the conviction of nine men from Rochdale for sexual exploitation and grooming in 2012.
This was alongside a number of other major investigations into grooming and exploitation in the last two years.
Chair of the Committee, Keith Vaz MP said: “This has been a harrowing inquiry in which we have heard of children being treated in an appalling way not just by their abusers but, because of catastrophic failures by the very agencies that society has appointed to protect them. We were shocked to learn that it is still happening, in every part of the country. The quality of the response to the abuse depends on where you live and that is inexcusable. We must not accept assurances that the situation is improving without hard evidence. Race is a factor but it is one of many in cases of child sexual exploitation.
“Officials who fail to act, for example in places like Rotherham or Rochdale, must not be allowed to evade responsibility through early retirement or resignation for other reasons and should not be paid compensation of any kind.
“Children only have one chance at childhood, once that childhood is stolen by the horrific crime of sexual exploitation, it cannot be returned. Protection of these vulnerable children must be our first priority."
(MH/CD)
Following a number of high-profile trials, the Home Affairs Committee said that police forces, social services and the Crown Prosecution Service must bear responsibility for failings.
According to the BBC, an investigation by the committee was launched after the conviction of nine men from Rochdale for sexual exploitation and grooming in 2012.
This was alongside a number of other major investigations into grooming and exploitation in the last two years.
Chair of the Committee, Keith Vaz MP said: “This has been a harrowing inquiry in which we have heard of children being treated in an appalling way not just by their abusers but, because of catastrophic failures by the very agencies that society has appointed to protect them. We were shocked to learn that it is still happening, in every part of the country. The quality of the response to the abuse depends on where you live and that is inexcusable. We must not accept assurances that the situation is improving without hard evidence. Race is a factor but it is one of many in cases of child sexual exploitation.
“Officials who fail to act, for example in places like Rotherham or Rochdale, must not be allowed to evade responsibility through early retirement or resignation for other reasons and should not be paid compensation of any kind.
“Children only have one chance at childhood, once that childhood is stolen by the horrific crime of sexual exploitation, it cannot be returned. Protection of these vulnerable children must be our first priority."
(MH/CD)
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