Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG)

Our two-year Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG) will be conducted under the Children's Commissioner's powers in the Children Act 2004. In doing so, we aim to throw light on the scale, scope, nature and extent of the sexual exploitation, victimisation and abuse that girls and boys in England are subjected by street gangs and loosely formed groups.

The CSEGG Inquiry began in October 2011, at that time the data, based on limited reporting, indicated that up to 10,000 children may be affected. Previous research conducted by ROTA, CEOP and the University of Bedfordshire revealed serious and violent sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

During year one of the Inquiry, we will gather evidence to find out the true picture and to highlight where there is good practice to support and identify children and young people in these circumstances. The Inquiry interim report was published on 21 November 2012. We also published an accelerated report on the Inquiry, with a special focus on children in care, for the Secretary of State for Education in July 2012.

Year two of the Inquiry will focus on remedial action required to address gang and group-associated child sexual exploitation, victimisation and abuse only.

At the end of the two-years, the Inquiry will:

1. Make recommendations to national action plans and related policies to prevent, address, and combat gang and group-associated CSEGG including identifying and promoting best practice.

2. Make recommendations to central and local government, the NHS, police and other key agencies on how to: combat gang and group-associated sexual exploitation, victimisation, and abuse of children; develop preventative programmes; and deliver effective intervention and rehabilitation for victims.

3. Influence and advise local authority child protection services, local safeguarding and health and well-being boards, police and crime commissioners, amongst other local stakeholders to recognise and respond to gang and group-associated sexual exploitation, victimisation and abuse as a pernicious form of sexual abuse and meet their obligations to protect victim.

The CSEGG Inquiry Process:

Under the powers granted to the Children's Commissioner in the Children Act 2004 the CSEGG Inquiry will use the following methods to develop our evidence base:

1) Call for evidence

2) Data requests to national and local statutory bodies to access data on children who are being, or who meet the risk indicators of being, sexually exploited, victimised and abused in gang and group contexts, of which non-compliance can be sanctioned with a fine or imprisonment

3) Oral evidence sessions with the Inquiry panel

4) Area and service visits

5) Review individual case files of incidents which were recorded as, or indicate the possibility of, gang and group-associated child sexual exploitation, victimisation and abuse

6) Visit children in a range of services using our right of entry powers in the Children Act 2004

For further information please contact the CSEGG Inquiry Secretariat: csegg.inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk