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Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks
23 February 2022
Lead MP
Sarah Champion
Rotherham
Lab
Responding Minister
Rachel Maclean
Tags
Justice & CourtsSocial CareChildren & FamiliesLocal Government
Word Count: 9599
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Sarah Champion raised concerns about child sexual exploitation by organised networks in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government must implement the six key recommendations made by the inquiry, including strengthening the criminal justice response and updating guidance on child exploitation. The Minister should also address issues such as the funding of Barnardo's project in Rotherham and introduce legislation to remove titles from peers convicted of sexual offences.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse report reveals extensive failures by local authorities and police forces to protect children from sexual exploitation. Children are being sexually exploited by organised networks in the most degrading ways, with victims often feeling blamed for their own abuse due to an adversarial legal system that fails to provide adequate support.
Rother Valley
Child sexual abuse is a critical issue for constituents in Rother Valley, especially given the past atrocities in Rotherham. The Government should fully implement recommendations from an independent inquiry's report, including updating guidance on child sexual exploitation and improving data collection on victims and perpetrators.
David Davis
Con
Haltemprice and Howden
Agrees with Sarah Champion's concerns, highlighting the need for better support for victims and the inadequacy of current court proceedings in dealing with child sexual exploitation cases.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate and on all the work she has done on the issue over many years, expressing concern about online abuse that children face and questioning if the draft Online Safety Bill will deliver protection.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
She highlighted the similarities between child sexual exploitation and child criminal exploitation, emphasizing the need for solutions to address a full spectrum of abuse. She pointed out that vulnerable young people are often coerced into illegal activities by gangs and stressed the importance of recognizing these young people as victims of crimes rather than perpetrators.
Gill Furniss
Lab
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
I thank my hon. Friend for securing the debate and praising Barnardo's work, expressing concern about funding cuts leaving more children vulnerable to exploitation.
Jess Phillips
Lab
Birmingham Yardley
Ms Phillips expressed frustration over the lack of progress in implementing recommendations from previous reports on child sexual exploitation. She highlighted the absence of comprehensive data, particularly regarding children with disabilities, and urged the Minister to commit to collecting such data. Ms Phillips also criticised the Home Office for not effectively monitoring and managing serial offenders, using personal case studies to illustrate her points.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon praised Sarah Champion's work and expressed concern about unregulated care homes for under-18s, advocating for continued support beyond age 18. He also mentioned the Northern Ireland Assembly's Justice Bill aimed at strengthening laws against sexual exploitation.
Kim Leadbeater
Lab
Spen Valley
The issue of child sexual exploitation must be addressed with urgency. West Yorkshire police recently charged 42 people for non-recent offences in Kim's constituency, highlighting the need for additional resources to investigate historical cases without compromising current investigations.
Lucy Allan
Con
Telford
Ms Allan highlighted the denial of child sexual exploitation issues in Telford, criticising local authorities for prioritising reputation over victims' rights and demanding transparency regarding the ongoing inquiry.
Marie Rimmer
Lab
St Helens South and Whiston
The MP highlighted the vulnerability of children with disabilities or in care, urging the Government to resource local councils adequately so they can provide regulated accommodation for these children. She emphasized that no child should be placed in unregulated homes.
Pauline Latham
Con
Derby North
She congratulated Sarah Champion on her work to highlight child sexual exploitation and introduced the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill to protect children from marriage. She stressed the importance of parliamentary pressure in ensuring national institutions perform their functions correctly.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
The speaker expressed fear over the lack of understanding about child sexual exploitation by organised networks, noting that victims are not receiving adequate support from local authorities. He urged for a Rotherham-style inquiry focused on Bradford district to address ongoing issues.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way and for the work she has done over many years, expressing concern about pressures on the court system making it challenging for victims of child sexual abuse.
Sandra Holliday
Lab
Wakefield
Supports the need to address the flaws in the legal system that further traumatize survivors of abuse. Emphasizes the importance of securing convictions and improving support for victims throughout the criminal process.
Tim Loughton
Con
Tatton
I declare my interest as recorded in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. I congratulate the hon. Lady on all her work over many years, asking why persistent problems in child sexual exploitation persist despite enhanced awareness and training.
Government Response
Rachel Maclean
Government Response
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey, and it is a pleasure to follow all the hon. Members here, who have championed with great passion and expertise the need to address this horrendous issue. The Minister thanked the hon. Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion) for securing the debate and acknowledged other participants. She highlighted the Home Office's commitment to tackling child sex abuse through a whole-system approach involving central government and local authorities. The Minister reassured that the Government will consider all findings from IICSA, responding within six months as required by the timeframe set out in the inquiry's recommendations. On sentencing, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would deliver legislative reforms ensuring offenders serve sentences reflecting the severity of their crimes. The disruption toolkit to help police and frontline professionals was on track for publication later that year. She addressed issues around care homes, ethnic minority communities, data collection, and funding for trusted relationships in Rotherham. The Minister also expressed shock at Lord Ahmed's continued use of his title despite allegations and committed to researching legislative options to address this issue.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.