NAPAC welcomes the latest report by IICSA into child sexual exploitation by organised networks. The report is based on the direct testimony of survivors and includes descriptions of abuse and responses to disclosure, as well as input from local councils and regional police forces.
What recommendations does the report make?
The report makes four recommendations:
1. The strengthening of the response of the criminal justice system, amending the Sentencing Act 2020 to provide a mandatory aggravating factor in sentencing those convicted of offences relating to the sexual exploitation of children.
2. The publication of an enhanced version of the government’s Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit as soon as possible, and that the Department for Education and the Welsh Government should update guidance on child sexual exploitation.
3. The Department for Education should, without delay, ban the placement in semi-independent and independent settings of children aged 16 and 17 who have experienced, or are at heightened risk of experiencing, sexual exploitation.
4. Police forces and local authorities in England and Wales must collect specific data – disaggregated by sex, ethnicity and disability – on all cases of known or suspected child sexual exploitation, including by networks.
What do we have to say?
NAPAC welcomes this important and timely report from IICSA. It accurately highlights the insidious nature of child sexual exploitation by organised networks and recognises the scope of what is a far-reaching societal problem.
“We particularly welcome the focus on the increased risk faced by children with a disability, as well as the specific issues faced by male victims, which can often be overlooked. IICSA rightly highlights the critical importance of improved data collection and the necessity for partnership working with third sector organisations, in order to better support survivors.
We recognise and agree that confusion over how child sexual exploitation is defined is hampering effective identification, disruption and ultimately protection of child victims. Policing also plays a vital role in this. This report highlights the findings of HMICFRS, who confirmed to IICSA that in its inspections of over 30 police forces, “without exception, police departments are operating at or beyond their intended capacity”.
More resources for policing would materially assist with this, though we are pleased that partnership working with third sector organisations is playing a larger part in ensuring that survivors’ voices are heard.”
Gabrielle Shaw, Chief Executive, NAPAC
External links
The report – https://www.iicsa.org.uk/reports-recommendations/publications/investigation/cs-organised-networks