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Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse 2025-01-16

16 January 2025

Lead MP

The Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper

Debate Type

Ministerial Statement

Tags

Education
Other Contributors: 41

At a Glance

The Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper raised concerns about child sexual exploitation and abuse 2025-01-16 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Government Statement

Last Monday, I set out actions to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes mandatory reporting, a new victims and survivors panel, an overhaul of data and police performance requirements, tougher sentences for perpetrators, and support for local inquiries such as in Oldham. Following discussions with Professor Alexis Jay and survivors from Oldham, I am updating the House on next steps to implement recommendations from independent national inquiry reports, including the February 2022 report on child sexual exploitation by organised networks and grooming gangs. The Government will lay out a clear timetable before Easter for taking forward these recommendations, particularly those specifically for the Home Office and Department for Education guidance updates. We are extending the remit of the independent child sexual abuse review panel to cover all cases since 2013 with £2 million additional funding for investigations and prosecutions. A cross-Government ministerial group is considering remaining recommendations supported by a victims and survivors panel. I am also writing to the National Police Chiefs’ Council asking chief constables to look again at historical gang exploitation cases, reopening investigations where appropriate. The Government will overhaul data collection and publish ethnicity data from end of investigations. Baroness Louise Casey will oversee a rapid audit to fill gaps in evidence on prevalence, cultural drivers, and demographics of perpetrators and victims. This aims to address current and historical failures and provide further analyses, investigations, and actions needed.
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