Child exploitation criminalisation
Systemic failure to divert children and young people exploited by criminal gangs away from the criminal justice system.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 5 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
16 inquiry recs
1 PFD report
19 committee recs
5 IMB recs
9 LGO/SPSO decisions
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry recommendations(16)
106 — Online age verification legislation
Recommendation: The government should introduce legislation requiring providers of online services and social media platforms to implement more stringent age verification techniques on all relevant devices.
Gov response: On 12 May 2021, the UK government published a draft Online Safety Bill, which includes a clause that will require providers of regulated services to conduct an assessment of whether children are likely to access …
Accepted
105 — WeProtect international action on CSAM
Recommendation: The government should press the WeProtect Global Alliance to take more action internationally to ensure that those countries hosting indecent images of children implement legislation and procedures to prevent access to such imagery.
Gov response: On 10 November 2020, the UK government committed to continue working with the WeProtect Global Alliance to make combating indecent images of children, grooming and live streaming a priority. It stated that it would do …
Accepted
104 — High risk countries list for travel orders
Recommendation: 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. …
Gov response: On 21 January 2021, the Home Office confirmed that it would bring forward the necessary legislation to give effect to this recommendation when parliamentary time allows. The Home Office stated that it had commissioned the …
Accepted
71 — Pre-screen material before upload
Recommendation: The government should require industry to pre-screen material before it is uploaded to the internet to prevent access to known indecent images of children.
Gov response: On 10 November 2020, the UK government stated that it had launched the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse alongside the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The interim code of …
Not Accepted
70 — Include clergy in position of trust definition
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: On 9 March 2021, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office stated that the government would introduce the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The Bill sought to extend the definition of a 'position of …
Accepted
56 — Update CSE guidance with network information
Recommendation: 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, …
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the …
Accepted in Part
40 — Publish interim online harms code of practice
Recommendation: The government should publish, without further delay, the interim code of practice in respect of child sexual abuse and exploitation as proposed by the Online Harms White Paper (published April 2019).
Gov response: On 15 December 2020, the UK government published the Interim Code of Practice on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.
Accepted
19 — Nottingham harmful sexual behaviour evaluation
Recommendation: Nottingham City Council and its child protection partners should commission an independent, external evaluation of their practice concerning harmful sexual behaviour, including responses, prevention, assessment, intervention and workforce development. An action plan should be set up to ensure that any …
Gov response: On 29 July 2021, Nottingham City Council stated that the NSPCC undertook an independent external evaluation of its practice in relation to harmful sexual behaviour. The NSPCC identified opportunities for further strengthening and an action …
Accepted
11 — Ban CSE-risk children from semi-independent placements
Recommendation: The Department for Education should ban the placement in semi-independent and independent settings of children aged 16 and 17 who have experienced, or are at heightened risk of experiencing, sexual exploitation. This should be implemented without delay.
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the …
Accepted in Part
10 — Publish enhanced Child Exploitation Disruption Toolkit
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the …
Accepted in Part
9 — Mandatory aggravating factor for CSE offences
Recommendation: 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) …
Gov response: In January 2025, the Home Secretary committed to legislate to make grooming an aggravating factor in the sentencing of child sexual offences. This commitment is being implemented through the Crime and Policing Bill 2025, currently …
Accepted in Part
6 — Redraft canonical crimes as crimes against the child
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: On 30 September 2021, the Catholic Council for the Inquiry confirmed that Book VI of the Code of Canon Law determines the penal norms in order to give precise and sure guidance to those who …
Accepted
4 — National plan for overseas CSA by UK nationals
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: On 21 January 2021, the Home Office confirmed that it would implement this recommendation as part of the UK government's Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy. The strategy sets out the government's national plan of action …
Accepted
1 — Collect disaggregated CSE data
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: On 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the …
Accepted in Part
94 — CICA unspent convictions rule reform
Recommendation: The Chair and Panel recommend that the Ministry of Justice revises Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority rules, so that awards are not automatically rejected in circumstances where an applicant's criminal convictions are likely to be linked to their child sexual abuse. …
Gov response: The Government will consider how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme can better serve victims of violent crime including child sexual abuse. The terms of reference for the review have been published, which will examine whether …
Not Accepted
R11 — Sexual offences intelligence retention
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir …
Accepted
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(1)
Select committee recommendations(19)
#110 —
Recommendation: 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% …
Gov response: As noted above, the Government is committed to ensuring an effective immigration and asylum system and has retained certain measures of the IMA 2023 where they have been assessed as beneficial to that aim. The …
Not Accepted
#106 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: As noted above, the Government is committed to ensuring an effective immigration and asylum system and has retained certain measures of the IMA 2023 where they have been assessed as beneficial to that aim. The …
Under Consideration
#36 — Adopt a statutory definition of Child Criminal Exploitation to ensure consistent application.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government consider adopting a statutory definition on Child Criminal Exploitation.
Gov response: The Government does not accept this recommendation. We recognise that a thorough and robust response is required to protect victims of child criminal exploitation (CCE), who are often the most vulnerable children in our society, …
Not Accepted
#98 — Introduce a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation to protect victims and ensure justice.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 98. We have carefully reviewed the previous commitment to provide 12 months of support to confirmed victims of modern slavery and concluded that the existing needs- based approach through the Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) ensures …
Under Consideration
#97 — Lack of statutory definition for child criminal exploitation causes wrongful prosecutions and inconsistent treatment.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 98. We have carefully reviewed the previous commitment to provide 12 months of support to confirmed victims of modern slavery and concluded that the existing needs- based approach through the Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) ensures …
Under Consideration
#118 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: As noted in the report, section 59 of the IMA 2023 has not yet been fully commenced. If commenced, it would broaden the application of the existing inadmissibility provisions at section 80A of the Nationality, …
Under Consideration
#107 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: As noted above, the Government is committed to ensuring an effective immigration and asylum system and has retained certain measures of the IMA 2023 where they have been assessed as beneficial to that aim. The …
Under Consideration
#33 — Vital to keep exploited children and young people out of criminal justice system.
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Government accepts these recommendations. The Drug Strategy sets out a whole-system approach to tackling county lines, combining targeted law enforcement action with comprehensive measures to reduce demand for drugs and to re-build the drug …
Accepted
#9 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 30. The Government does not have any current plans to either review or change the age of criminal responsibility. The Committee acknowledged that there are substantial arguments for the retention of the current minimum age …
Not Accepted
#37 — Pilot inclusion of Prevention Officers within County Lines Taskforces to share good practice.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government partially accepts this recommendation. County lines gangs exploit children and vulnerable young people, coercing them into being ‘runners’ and transporting Class A drugs and money locally as well as around the country. Rail …
Partially Accepted
#35 — Link children and young people's drug treatment services with exploitation services for holistic support.
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: Improving partnership working to prevent substance misuse is at the heart of the Drug Strategy and ensuring that local areas have robust multi-agency safeguarding responses is an important element of our approach to tackling county …
Accepted
#10 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 30. The Government does not have any current plans to either review or change the age of criminal responsibility. The Committee acknowledged that there are substantial arguments for the retention of the current minimum age …
Not Accepted
#21 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 6: PAC conclusion: 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 …
Accepted
#20 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 6: PAC conclusion: 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 …
Accepted
#6 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: 2023. This is the government’s response to the Committee’s report. Relevant reports • NAO report: Investigation into the management of backlogs in driving licence applications – Session 2022-23 (HC 851) • PAC report: Driving licence …
Accepted
#1 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Affairs Select Committee’s report comes at a time when the nature of extremist ideologies, behaviours and pathways are developing in ways that do not always align with traditional ideological categories, particularly in online …
Response Not Attributed
#32 — Drug strategy requires further action to prevent exploitation of children by county lines.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government accepts these recommendations. The Drug Strategy sets out a whole-system approach to tackling county lines, combining targeted law enforcement action with comprehensive measures to reduce demand for drugs and to re-build the drug …
Accepted
#9 —
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Lord David Anderson set out clearly in his ‘Lessons for Prevent’ report in July 2025 the challenges posed by the shift towards online radicalisation. The Home Office and Counter-Terrorism Police continue to adapt to this …
Accepted
#7 — Embed a safeguarding approach to prosecute paramilitary activity as modern slavery and exploitation.
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The UK Government acknowledges the importance of work to ensure that the Northern Ireland framework for safeguarding children and young people protects those abused by paramilitary or organised crime gangs. This is a policy area …
Not Addressed
IMB individual recommendations(5)
Feltham (2024)
To the Mayor of London: what is he doing to address knife crime and gang conflict in London?
Other
In Progress
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?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Feltham (2025)
Address knife crime and gang conflict in London (Mayor of London).
Other
Feltham (2025)
Address youth knife crime and gang culture.
Ministry of Justice
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?
Ministry of Justice
Accepted
LGO / SPSO decisions(9)
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jun 2022
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jul 2024
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jul 2024
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jul 2024
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Jul 2024
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2025
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2025
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Apr 2025
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 …
LGO (Local Government & …
Children S Care Services
Upheld
Apr 2025