Press Notice: Children’s Commissioner calls for immediate ban of AI apps that enable ‘deepfake’ sexual abuse of children
The Children’s Commissioner is calling on the government to introduce a total ban on apps that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate sexually explicit ‘deepfake’ images of children. Dame Rachel de Souza’s new report exposes how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is being misused to create sexually explicit deepfake images of real people, and the alarming […]
“One day this could happen to me” – Children, nudification tools and sexually explicit deepfakes
The growth of the online world is a technological revolution, the likes of which hasn’t been witnessed in centuries. The internet has enhanced our lives immeasurably, by opening up education, communication and research in ways those of us who are now well into our adulthoods might never have imagined. For children growing up in 2025, […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the proposed use of pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA) on children in Young Offender Institutions
As Children’s Commissioner, my top priority is for all children to be safe, happy and cared for. That just must include children in prison. I am deeply disappointed to see today’s plans to introduce the use of chemical irritant sprays such as pelargonic acid vanillylamide (known as PAVA) on children in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on Ofcom’s new Children’s Safety Codes
The Online Safety Act places a legal requirement on Ofcom to consult my Office about the Children’s Safety Code and I made it very clear last year that its proposals were not strong enough to protect children from the multitude of harms they are exposed to online every day. I am disappointed to see this […]
Looking back at the Festival of Childhood
Earlier this month I hosted my inaugural Festival of Childhood: Our Future, Our Voice at Young V&A to celebrate the joy of childhood and outline my vision to make England the best place to grow up. During the day I called on decision makers to listen to young people to make their lives and the […]
The Big Conversation Podcast – Episode 8 – Facing the Future, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion
The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children’s Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. The podcast draws on the themes in The Big Ambition and will focus on the most important issues that are impacting young people’s lives, with solutions developed with […]
The Big Conversation Podcast – Episode 7 – Building the Foundations, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion
The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children’s Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. The podcast draws on the themes in The Big Ambition and will focus on the most important issues that are impacting young people’s lives, with solutions developed with […]
Press Notice: Most headteachers restrict mobile phones in school hours – but major new survey shows online harms still among their biggest concerns
The vast majority of schools in England have policies in place that stop children using their phones during the school day, a major new survey shows. The first data from the Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Survey reveals 90% of secondary schools and 99.8% of primary schools already have policies in place that stop the […]
School phone policies in England: Findings from the Children’s Commissioner’s School and College Survey
Over the last four years, I have spoken to a million young people and thousands of parents about the most pressing issues facing children growing up in England today. One issue that comes up time and again – from children, parents, and professionals alike – is online safety. While digital technology provides young people with […]
Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on action plan to tackle grooming gangs and sexual abuse
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 […]
Business Plan, 2025-26
The year ahead – 2025-26 – will be my penultimate year as Children’s Commissioner for England. It will also mark 20 years since the establishment of this office – a milestone that offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and a reminder about the many urgent challenges that remain. More than […]
Press Notice: ‘Crisis in childhood’ warns Children’s Commissioner, as she hosts inaugural Festival of Childhood – calling on decision makers to listen to children
Children are facing a ‘crisis in childhood’, the Children’s Commissioner will warn in a speech this morning, with many turning to the online world for answers as they feel increasingly ‘disconnected’ from society. Speaking at her inaugural Festival of Childhood: Our Future, Our Voice, hosted at Young V&A, Dame Rachel de Souza will urge adult […]
Archived Content
Improving the living situation of children living in secure accommodation
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commisioner for England, has written to Vicky Ford MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, Lucy Frazer QC MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Justice and Nadine Dorries MP, Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health regarding concerns about children in living in secure accommodation, particularly those […]
Children in custody during lockdown
Since the start of the Covid pandemic, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office has investigated and highlighted concerns about the treatment of children in secure settings. Our briefing in May used data collected from the Youth Custody Service (YCS) alongside a series of interviews with children to shine a light on conditions for children in custody during […]
Help at Hand annual report 2020
Our 2020 annual report for Help at Hand, our advice line for children in care.
Response to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care
Anne Longfield, responding to the DfE’s announcement on unregulated accommodation for children in care, said: “The Government’s ban on unregulated provision for under-16s in care is very welcome, but needs to go further and include all under-18s. There are too many teenage children in care living in completely unsuitable and sometimes dangerous accommodation, including hostels […]
Five things you need to know about SEN in schools
How children’s needs are met (or go unmet) in schools, and the implications of these for the SEND Review and other reforms
Building back better
When I became Children’s Commissioner for England six years ago, I set out an ambitious vision for a nation where childhood is understood and celebrated and where the voice of all children is listened to at the heart of Government. I had in mind a particular group of children who, in my experience of working […]
Building back better – Anne Longfield’s final speech as Children’s Commissioner
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has delivered her final speech in post with a challenge to the Prime Minister to show he is serious about children by putting them at the heart of his post-Covid plans. Her speech warned that the Prime Minister’s promise to ‘level up’ will be ‘just a slogan unless […]
Speech
Characteristics of children entering care for the first time as teenagers
Last year, research from my office showed that even before the pandemic, there were 120,000 highly vulnerable children in England who were falling through the gaps in education and social care. This group of children – equivalent to 1 in 25 13-17 year olds – all had significant additional needs and vulnerabilities but were not […]
Spend over £25,000: 2020 – 2021
We publish details of all spending over £25,000 on a quarterly basis. 1 April 2020 – 30 June 2020 Nil 1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020 Transaction date Merchant name Transaction amount Entity Details 14/08/2020 National Audit Office £33,600.00 OCC External Audit Services 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2020 Nil 1 January 2021 […]
Still not safe
The public health response to youth violence
