What’s going on October 2011 to Safeguard Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation? How local partnerships respond to child sexual exploitation

This research project has explored the extent and nature of the response of LSCBs (London Safeguarding Children Board) to the 2009 government guidance on safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation. It was carried out by the International Centre for the Study of Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Young People, based in the Institute of Applied Social Research at the University of Bedfordshire. A central objective of the International Centre is to encourage strong links between research and practice.

There are three areas that cause particular concern:
• Only a quarter of LSCBs in England are implementing the guidance
• Young people, their families and carers receive awareness raising in less than half of the country
• The prosecution of abusers is rare and, where criminal proceedings take place, young people’s experience of court is intolerable

Key findings concern the following fields:
• Coordinating a local response to child sexual exploitation
• Identifying child sexual exploitation
• Disrupting and prosecuting abusers
• Collecting and managing data.

The research included recommendations for the future:
There is an urgent need to review how the court process impacts on young people who are victims of child sexual exploitation, learning from the experiences of recent prosecutions. All pre- and post-qualifying training for professionals working with young people should include child sexual exploitation. All LSCB Chairs and Directors of Children’s Services should receive
training on child sexual exploitation. A national database providing information on the nature and prevalence of sexual exploitation should be maintained and monitored.