London: Some 10,000 children are being sexually exploited by organised gangs in England today, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office has claimed. And the commissioner’s office fear it could be even higher.
The appalling figure was released at the start of a two-year inquiry into the scale of the appalling crimes which are said to reach into all levels of society.
Deputy Children’s Commissioner Sue Berelowitz, who will head the inquiry, said available evidence suggests many more girls and boys of all ages are being abused in much larger numbers.
She said, ‘Right now thousands of children are being horrifically abused by gangs and in groups.
‘Children are being failed up and down the country – in every village, town and city.
‘Accurate data is essential so that Government, police, local authorities, schools, the youth justice sector and health professionals can properly identify and protect child victims.
Labour councillor, 53, admits grooming ‘schoolgirl’ (who was actually an adult blackmailer)
‘As a society we have a collective responsibility to uncover the facts and deal with the grim reality so that children can be properly protected.’
The inquiry will examine how often vulnerable children are being sexually exploited by organised criminal gangs and other groups.
It will study the appalling phenomenon of Asian men grooming white girls for sex and how teenage girl gang members can be forced into prostitution.
The children’s charity Barnardo’s say children as young as 10 are being sexually exploited by organised gangs.
Experts said there is a lack of reliable official information about the true scale of sexual abuse across England.
Fears have been repeatedly raised that teachers, social workers and the police are missing the warning signs when children fall prey to abusers.
The inquiry was announced after one academic study found much more needs to be done to protect children from sexual exploitation.
Experts at the University of Bedfordshire found guidance issued two years ago on safeguarding children is not being followed in three out of four areas.
They found children are coerced into sexual activity by grooming, pressure from friend who is already a victim, or powerful neighbourhood gang members.
Children in local authority care are more than four times as likely to fall victim as those in families.
Earlier this year an investigation found one in four men accused of street grooming vulnerable underage girls for sex is Asian.
It followed a series of shocking cases in which white girls were lured into abuse, often with drugs and alcohol.
The report was the most detailed assessment yet of the crime but the new report will have a wider remit to include all types of abuse.
In January, leading charity Barnardo’s said children as young as 10 are being sexually exploited by organised gangs of men.
It revealed staff were working with more than 1,000 children who have been groomed, abused and trafficked for money, and the problem is growing.
The government is due to publish a renewed action plan later this year detailing how it will respond to concerns about child sexual exploitation.
Mrs Berelowitz said abuse is taking place not just in deprived areas or among certain communities, but potentially in all parts of the country.
She added: ‘It would also be wrong for anyone to conclude or assert that this is an issue for one particularly ethnic community.
‘The emerging demographic of the children and perpetrators involved is very diverse and seem to reflect the local demographic of where the abuse is taking place.’
Children’s Commissioner Maggie Atkinson said the inquiry, which will be published in July next year, will be ‘a wake-up call for us all.’
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