Distinguish CSE risk from actual exploitation

19. We recognise that local and national understanding of child sexual exploitation, including where perpetrated by organised networks, has progressed since the guide for practitioners was published in 2017. We therefore propose accepting these recommendations in principle, noting that we do not propose making changes immediately as we will need to consider and respond to systemic recommendations for safeguarding partners emerging from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Review and other national child protection reviews. 20. In addition, as referenced in the introduction on page three, the Home Secretary recently commissioned HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to conduct a national thematic inspection into the policing response to group-based child sexual exploitation. This will assess how the police are working with partners to better understand and tackle this offending, as well as how frontline officers are interacting with victims. The outcome of this inspection, and of the upcoming Ofsted thematic Joint Targeted Area Inspections on child criminal exploitation, including the local area response to child sexual exploitation, will be important to consider in updating guidance on child sexual exploitation. 21. In any future update to the child sexual exploitation guidance, the government will take on board findings from these reviews and inspections, as well as considering the Inquiry’s recommendations on adding detail around the role of the internet, exploitation perpetrated by networks of offenders, and clarity on the language used in risk assessments.

We therefore propose accepting these recommendations in principle, noting that we do not propose making changes immediately as we will need to consider and respond to systemic recommendations for safeguarding partners emerging from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Review and other national child protection reviews.