Child exploitation criminalisation
Systemic failure to divert children and young people exploited by criminal gangs away from the criminal justice system.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
99match
#98 - Introduce a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to protect victims and ensure justice.
We are disappointed that the Government does not currently agree that there is compelling evidence to introduce a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation. We urge the Government to read our evidence and to consider introducing a statutory definition to ensure a) that children who commit criminal offences as a consequence of their own exploitation receive appropriate support...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
91match
#97 - Lack of statutory definition for child criminal exploitation causes wrongful prosecutions and inconsistent treatment.
We are deeply concerned that the absence of a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation, and the consequent different interpretations of this crime, leads to children continuing to be prosecuted for crimes committed as a result of exploitation—for example, drug-related offences. There is also inconsistency in the treatment of children when a section 45 defence is raised. It...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
87match
#33 - Vital to keep exploited children and young people out of criminal justice system.
To tackle county lines, we believe it is vital that the children and young people exploited (or at risk of exploitation) by criminal gangs are kept out of the criminal justice system.
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
87match
#36 - Adopt a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation to ensure consistent application.
We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
86match
#35 - Link children and young people's drug treatment services with exploitation services for holistic support.
We recommend that the Government work with local partners to link up drug treatment services for children and young people with exploitation services to ensure that they receive holistic support.
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
85match
#32 - Drug strategy requires further action to prevent exploitation of children by county lines.
We welcome the 10-Year Drug Strategy’s commitment to rolling up county lines but increasing law enforcement efforts is only one part of the solution. We therefore welcome the strategy’s commitment to reducing demand for drugs and to re- building the drug treatment and recovery sector. We believe that these actions will play an important role in tackling county...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
83match
10 - Publish enhanced Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit
As referenced in its Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy, the government should publish an enhanced version of its Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit as soon as possible. This Toolkit must: specify that the core element of the definition of child sexual exploitation is that a child was controlled, coerced, manipulated or deceived into sexual activity; include specific guidance on...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
82match
57 - Distinguish CSE risk from actual exploitation
The Department for Education and the Welsh Government must ensure that their updated national guidance makes clear that signs that a child is being sexually exploited must never be treated as indications that a child is only 'at risk' of experiencing this harm. In line with this, local authorities in England and in Wales should ensure that their...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
77match
#110 - 4th Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
ILPA notes that “[t]his provision disproportionately impacts survivors who were forced to commit crimes as part of their exploitation and who have received convictions. Analysis conducted in 2024 clearly demonstrates that, of the 338 people disqualified (including 40 children): 70% of all disqualified individuals were acknowledged as having an element of criminal exploitation in their case (73% of...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
72match
#107 - 4th Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Whilst survivors of modern slavery should be able to access the ‘Section 45’ defence,142 created to prevent the criminalisation of survivors for offences they were compelled to commit as a result of their exploitation, After Exploitation points out that “its application is narrow and there is a lack of awareness of the defence amongst professionals in the criminal...
Matched on
terms: criminalisation, exploitation
Committee recommendation
71match
#9 - 12th Report: Children and Young People in Custody (Part 1): Entry into the youth justice system
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is a contentious issue with substantial arguments in favour both of the status quo age of 10 and an increase in that age. We are not persuaded that it should be immediately increased, but given the arguments in favour of raising it and the fact that the age in...
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
69match
104 - High risk countries list for travel orders
The Home Office should bring forward legislation providing for the establishment and maintenance by the National Crime Agency of a list of countries where children are considered to be at high risk of sexual abuse and exploitation from overseas offenders. This list should be kept under regular review. The list of countries should be made available to the...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
69match
9 - Mandatory aggravating factor for CSE offences
The government should amend the Sentencing Act 2020 to provide a mandatory aggravating factor in sentencing in the case of the commission of an offence under Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 relating to a child, where (1) the child was exploited, (2) 'exploitation' means the child was controlled, coerced, manipulated or deceived into sexual activity...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
68match
#7 - Embed a safeguarding approach to prosecute paramilitary activity as modern slavery and exploitation.
Low prosecution rates for those who commit violent crime can act as a barrier to reporting the crimes of paramilitary groups and serve to perpetuate the impunity with which these groups act. An effective criminal justice system able to identify perpetrators of paramilitary violence and bring them to justice is of paramount importance. The Government must set out...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
66match
#10 - 12th Report: Children and Young People in Custody (Part 1): Entry into the youth justice system
We recommend that the Ministry review the age of criminal responsibility, considering the data available from Scotland and from broadly comparable European and other jurisdictions in which the age is higher than 10 at which it stands in England and Wales. We recommend that the Ministry report on the implications of raising the age in England and Wales...
Matched on
terms: child
PFD report
65match
Dainton Gittos
The coroner questioned why charges under the Children and Young Persons Act were not brought against the parents, given the evidence presented.
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
65match
56 - Update CSE guidance with network information
The Department for Education should review and publish an updated version of its guidance on child sexual exploitation. The update should specify that the core element of the definition of child sexual exploitation is that a child was controlled, coerced, manipulated or deceived into sexual activity. It should also include detailed information on: the role of the internet...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
65match
4 - National plan for overseas CSA by UK nationals
The Home Office should coordinate the development of a national plan of action addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation overseas by UK nationals and residents of England and Wales, involving input from all lead governmental agencies in the field.
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
64match
1 - Collect disaggregated CSE data
Police forces and local authorities in England and in Wales must collect data on all cases of known or suspected child sexual exploitation and child sexual exploitation by networks. These data should be separated from other data sets, including data on child sexual abuse, and be disaggregated by the sex, ethnicity and disability of both the victim and...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Inquiry recommendation
62match
6 - Redraft canonical crimes as crimes against the child
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales should request that the Holy See redraft the canonical crimes relating to child sexual abuse as crimes against the child.
Matched on
terms: child
PFD report
61match
Leonardo Machado
A lack of oversight regarding the 'rental' of food delivery licenses to children under 18 places them in vulnerable lone-working situations, increasing their risk of road traffic collisions and harm.
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
60match
37 - Westminster whistleblowing policies for CSA
Government, political parties and other Westminster institutions must have whistleblowing policies and procedures which cover child sexual abuse and exploitation. Every employee must be aware that they can raise any concerns using these policies and that the policies are not limited to concerns specific to a person's employment.
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
60match
#37 - Pilot inclusion of Prevention Officers within County Lines Taskforces to share good practice.
We welcome the British Transport Police’s efforts to improve responses to child exploitation through the secondment of two Prevention Officers from the Children’s Society. We recommend that the Government work with other police forces with a dedicated County Lines Taskforce to pilot the inclusion of Prevention Officers within those teams, and the sharing of good practice. (Paragraph 128)...
Matched on
terms: child, exploitation
Committee recommendation
57match
#21 - Thirty-Seventh Report - Support for vulnerable adolescents
Whilst the number of children in youth custody across all ethnicities has reduced (by 73%) between 2010–11 and 2020–21, the proportion from ethnic minority backgrounds has increased (from 32% to 53%).54 Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice drew our attention to a recent HMI Probation report found that young black boys, aged 10–17, are 2.8 times more likely to...
Matched on
terms: child
Committee recommendation
57match
#20 - Thirty-Seventh Report - Support for vulnerable adolescents
Between 2010–11 and 2020–21, the number of children cautioned or sentenced for an offence reduced from 85,300 to 15,751 (an 82% reduction) and the number of first- time entrants to the youth criminal justice system reduced from 46,012 to 8,848 (an 81% reduction).50 We asked the Ministry of Justice about the NAO finding that the government does not...
Matched on
terms: child
Committee recommendation
55match
#6 - Thirty-Seventh Report - Support for vulnerable adolescents
The Ministry of Justice and Home Office seem to lack curiosity about the increase in the proportion of children from ethnic minority background in youth custody and appear to have no current plan to address the situation. While the number of children in youth custody across all ethnicities has reduced by 73% from 2010–11 to 2020–21, the proportion...
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
53match
FR-15 - Remove Limitation Period
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government makes the necessary changes to legislation in order to ensure: the removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in respect of their abuse; and the express protection of the right to a fair trial, with the burden falling on...
Matched on
terms: child
Committee recommendation
53match
#106 - 4th Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Sarah Dineley, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor at the CPS, stated: “[i]t is vital that, wherever possible, victims of trafficking are identified before any decisions are made on charge and prosecution; this is particularly important where the suspect is a child and reflects the findings of the ECtHR case of VCL and AN v The UK.” She also noted...
Matched on
terms: child
Committee recommendation
52match
#118 - 4th Report - Legislative Scrutiny: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
The implications for Albanian women and children are particularly concerning. For example, an Albanian woman who has been trafficked to the UK and faces a real risk of reprisals and re-trafficking upon return to Albania, could be returned to Albania unless she can demonstrate “exceptional circumstances” according to the determination of the Secretary of State. The UK country...
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
48match
99 - Honours forfeiture for CSA convictions
The criteria for forfeiture of all honours must be formally extended to include convictions, cautions and cases decided by trial of the facts involving offences of child sexual abuse. This must be set out in a published policy and procedure, which must include a clear policy on how forfeiture decisions are made public. The Inquiry expects the Forfeiture...
Matched on
terms: child
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
22-003-490 - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a failure by the Council to take action to assist Ms X’s family when a child was being exploited. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to consider it now.
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
45match
70 - Include clergy in position of trust definition
The government should amend Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 so as to include clergy within the definition of a position of trust. This would criminalise under s16-s20 sexual activity between clergy and a person aged 16-18, over whom they exercise pastoral authority, involving the abuse of a position of trust.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
39match
#1 - 7th Report – Combatting new forms of extremism
Extremism is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex. Long-standing terrorist threats remain but new forms of extremism are emerging and give rise to growing concern. The impact of geo-political events is likely to intensify in light of continuing conflict in the Middle East. There has been a marked rise in the prevalence of young people being drawn into...
Matched on
classifier match
IMB recommendation
39match
Feltham (2024)
What is the Government doing to address youth knife crime and gang culture, which leads young people to custody with very long sentences for crimes of extreme violence?
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
35match
#9 - 7th Report – Combatting new forms of extremism
Prevent is poorly adapted to deal with the digital world. We have outlined how online spaces are now central to the radicalisation process, particularly for young people, yet Prevent lacks the specialist knowledge or framework for identifying and assessing credible risk signals from online behaviour. Integration of Prevent into wider safeguarding systems is being hampered by poorly resourced,...
Matched on
classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
30match
24-004-715 - Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement in Ms X’s child’s case. The law prevents us investigating complaints about what happened in court, and we have no power to overturn a court decision and return Ms X’s child to her care.
Matched on
terms: child
LGO / SPSO decision
30match
24-004-580 - London Borough of Havering
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement in Mr X’s child’s case. The matter is being considered by the courts, and we are therefore prevented in law from investigating it.
Matched on
terms: child
LGO / SPSO decision
30match
24-021-015 - West Northamptonshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with her children. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is the subject of court proceedings. We also cannot achieve the outcome Miss X wants.
Matched on
terms: child
LGO / SPSO decision
30match
24-020-426 - Kent County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to properly consider the complainant’s concerns about the placement of her children with their father. This is because the complaint concerns matters which have been considered and decided in court, or are closely related to such matters.
Matched on
terms: child
IMB recommendation
27match
Feltham (2025)
Address knife crime and gang conflict in London (Mayor of London).
Matched on
classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
26match
24-021-357 - London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s involvement with her child. The law prevents us from investigating anything that has been the subject of court proceedings or could have reasonably been raised in court. We cannot achieve the outcome Ms X wants.
Matched on
terms: child
Inquiry recommendation
18match
R11 - Sexual offences intelligence retention
The Code of Practice should have particular regard to the factors to be considered when reviewing the retention or deletion of intelligence in cases of sexual offences.
Matched on
classifier match
IMB recommendation
18match
Wetherby (2020)
Increasing numbers of YP are charged with violent offences and are placed in custody, either sentenced or on remand. What is being done at a national level to reduce the levels of violence among YP?
Matched on
classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
18match
24-005-324 - Lancashire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because there is no sign of fault in the Council’s decision not to consider his complaint whilst there are ongoing court proceedings.
Matched on
classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
18match
24-003-323 - Nottinghamshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with matters concerning a safeguarding matter. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
Matched on
classifier match
LGO / SPSO decision
18match
24-011-580 - London Borough of Haringey
Summary: Miss X complained the Council has failed to properly investigate her complaints about the Council’s actions following the decision to place her grandson in her care. She also complained the Council has failed to address her concerns or provide an appropriate remedy. We found the Council’s failure to provide support and the use of an inappropriate contact...
Matched on
classifier match