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BETTER PROTECTION FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN
10 June 2009- New guidelines for police, teachers, social workers and health workers to protect children at risk from sexual exploitation - Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan today called upon front line professionals to work together to identify children at risk of sexual exploitation and take the best steps to keep them safe from harm. Her call comes alongside the publication of new guidance, produced by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and the Home Office, advising local organisations on how to identify children at risk, protect them and take action against people intent on abusing and exploiting them.Delyth Morgan said:“The sexual exploitation of children and young people is despicable and completely unacceptable and it is imperative that the people who work with children and young people are aware of the signs that they are being groomed for sexual exploitation and know how best to intervene. “We want England to be the best place for our young people to grow up, and today’s new guidance, which has been developed across Government as well as with the voluntary and community organisations that work with children at risk, pulls together some of the many examples of good work already underway.“We know there is more to be done to protect vulnerable children. It is not just about removing an individual child from a harmful situation, but taking early and effective action to help prevent children from being put in danger in the first place. I urge all agencies to look again at this issue and use this guidance to ensure they are doing everything they can in their local area.”The guidance is an update on ‘Safeguarding Children involved in Prostitution’, which was issued in 2000. It will be statutory for Local Authorities and will also be issued as a circular to police forces (as with the guidance that it replaces). It is aimed at Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) partners, practitioners and other professionals working with children and young people. Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: “The Home Office welcomes this new guidance on safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation is child abuse. It is vital that all front-line agencies recognise it as such and work together to safeguard children from this horrible form of abuse and wherever possible bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”The full extent of sexual exploitation is hidden as it mostly takes place away from streets in private homes. It can take many forms from the seemingly ‘consensual’ relationship where sex is exchanged for attention/affection, accommodation or gifts to serious organised crime and child trafficking. What marks out exploitation is an imbalance of power within the relationship with the perpetrator holding some kind of power over the victim, increasing the dependence of the victim as the exploitative relationship develops.Sheila Taylor, chair of the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children and Young People said:“The Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People is increasingly becoming recognised by all agencies, therefore we welcome the revision of the 2000 guidelines, not least for its ability to ensure these children are recognised as victims of abuse. There is more to be done to ensure these young people are offered the appropriate response and look forward to being able to contribute to the implementation of these guidelines.”
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The guidance can be found at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/safeguardingandsocialcare/safeguardingchildren/safeguarding/ 2. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including keeping children safe from sexual exploitation, is a key part of the Government’s drive to improve outcomes for children and young people. In December 2007, the Government published its Children’s Plan, setting out its ambition to make England the best place in the world for children to grow up by 2020. The Staying Safe: Action Plan, published in February 2008, set out how the Government would deliver a key strand of that ambition, including publishing this guidance.3. The guidance was published for consultation in July 2008.Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2009/0104
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