Responding to a Home Office action plan published on 8 April taking forward measures to tackle child sexual abuse and grooming by gangs, Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:
“Behind every shocking headline about grooming or exploitation is a child who has been failed and a system that has sidelined their experience and their voice. This must never be allowed to happen to any child again – the steps being set out now must be a line in the sand.
“Holding services, professionals and governments accountable for how they protect their most vulnerable children – and how they protect their childhoods – is vital. But it must also be supported by urgent and bold action to tackle child sexual abuse and seen as a crucial part of the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls.
“I welcome plans for targeted inspections of how victims experience the criminal justice system – a system that can be confusing and overwhelming to navigate – and I look forward to helping to shape the new Child Protection Authority, to ensure it builds on existing strong practice.
“Victims of any form of abuse deserve to be heard and properly supported. I will be seeking assurances from ministers on the funding that will be made available for therapeutic support, particularly in the absence of a formal redress scheme.”
