Progress is being made on righting the terrible wrong which saw victims of child sexual exploitation let down repeatedly and given criminal records themselves by the system which should have been there to protect them.
This is an issue I’ve raised with the Home Office previously and I’m pleased to see progress is now being made.
There was never a justification for criminalising victims especially children, and it’s a scandal it was ever allowed to happen. That a child in the midst of exploitation and abuse could be considered a prostitute, or that when they tried to flee their abusers were charged with criminal damage beggars belief, but it’s the lived experience of too many victims. That will now be put right with a proposed change in the law meaning that criminal records for these offences will be expunged.
In related news, the National Crime Agency (NCA) have reported that they are currently reviewing 1,273 files from 23 police forces from 2010 to date, with 236 being reviewed as priority cases across the country. Operation Beaconport is in addition to localised investigations, such as those under Operation Sherwood in Greater Manchester.
Initial findings reported appear to mirror previous reviews in that obvious cases of exploitation and abuse were simply not followed up to any acceptable standard. That must be put right.
Seeking help;
If you have been affected by abuse or want to find out more about what support is available visit https://www.itsnotokay.co.uk
Read more about the changes being proposed;
Jim McMahon OBE MP 