Visit to The Lighthouse
Last week we visited The Lighthouse, a brilliant multiagency safe space supporting children and young people in their recovery from sexual abuse and exploitation. Not only does The Lighthouse highlight the importance of access to local services to support victims of child sexual abuse, but it also highlights the brilliant work that can be done […]
Celebrating the RE Council’s 50th Anniversary
Draft speaking notes – speech to the RE Council Speech 3rd May 2023 Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the RE Council. I qualified as an RE teacher in 1991, after my degree in Theology and Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London […]
Statement on government plans to tackle grooming
The Children’s Commissioner responds to the Government’s plans to create a new Grooming Gangs Taskforce to better protect children and young women from sexual abuse and exploitation. Children’s Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza said: “I welcome this focus on protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, and I urge them to extend this […]
‘A lot of it is actually just abuse’- Young people and pornography
This paper, the first in a series of research reports, makes clear the urgent need to protect children from the harms of online pornography. It is my duty as Children’s Commissioner to champion young people’s views and voices, and to ensure that all children enjoy the freedom to grow up safely and happily, both online […]
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill
Briefing to MPs on the Online Safety Bill Next week is the Second Reading of the Online Safety Bill. As Children’s Commissioner, I have convened the 15 leading children’s rights organisations and internet safety experts in the UK to tell you about our thoughts on it. I am writing to all MPs with views on […]
Archived Content
The same mistakes that led to child sexual exploitation are being repeated with gangs
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has published an in-depth study looking at children in England who are members of gangs. The report is published as the Commissioner hosts a summit today (Thursday) bringing together Police and Crime Commissioners, senior police officers and chairs of local safeguarding boards, to hold these agencies to account […]
Children’s Commissioner’s statement on National Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day
The exploitation of children for sex is a horrific crime which must be stopped and this is why I am a strong supporter of the National Awareness Day.
Statement
Children’s Commissioner responds to report on children with learning disabilities at higher risk of sexual exploitation
This research highlights how important it is to ensure that the needs of learning disabled children and young people are taken into account in work to tackle child sexual exploitation.
Pass the parcel: children posted around the care system
“I feel like a parcel getting moved around all the time, getting opened up and sent back and moved on to somewhere else.” Teenage girl, in care over 100 miles from home There are over 30,000 looked after children living ‘out of area’ in England. This is 41% of all children in care and has […]
Explosion in number of older children going into care over last five years is hitting stability of the system
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has published the Children’s Commissioner’s 2019 Stability Index, an annual measure of the stability of the lives of children in care in England. The Index was launched in 2017 and shines a light on the number of times children in care move home placement, school or social worker. […]
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield responds to Home Affairs Select Committee report on serious violence
Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Serious Violence, said: “This hard-hitting report exposes the dangers facing the many thousands of vulnerable children who are at risk of grooming by ruthless criminal gangs. Many of the mistakes that led to failings in child sexual exploitation are now […]
A response to our letter to DExEU on the consequences for children’s safety of a No Deal Brexit
The following is a response to our letter to the Department for Exiting the European Union, written with the other UK Children’s Commissioners, on the consequences for children’s safety of a No Deal Brexit. It highlights how a No Deal scenario would disrupt some of the mechanisms in place to protect children. *** Dear Anne, […]
Shining a light on the experiences of children involved in gangs in England
Why do children join gangs in such numbers? For some it is the draw of fast money and a sense of glamour. For others, as I found out during a visit to South London, it was clear that in a gang many vulnerable teenagers find the security and loyalty missing from their family lives.
Why the Government body for judging compensation for the victims of child abuse is getting it wrong
It is deeply shocking to discover that some victims of child sexual exploitation are being refused compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, as we know that the impact of abuse on the life chances of victims is shattering.
Anne Longfield welcomes £40m plan to tackle child sexual abuse and child trafficking
Child sexual exploitation is a damaging crime which can leave lasting scars on its child victims. Sadly, it is one which will not go away, so action to address it must be continuously maintained.