Uncovering the Hidden Truths of Child Grooming in England and Wales

A recent audit has shed light on the troubling issue of child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs in England and Wales. The review, led by Baroness Casey, was commissioned by the government to examine existing data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse. The report has uncovered some startling facts and made several recommendations to tackle this issue. One of the most concerning findings is the lack of reliable data on the scale of the problem. The report highlights flaws in data collection, making it difficult to assess the true extent of group-based child sexual exploitation. The Complex and Organised Child Abuse Dataset identified around 700 recorded offences in 2023, but this is likely just the tip of the iceberg. The crime is often under-reported and suffers from confusing and inconsistently applied definitions. The report also points out a significant data gap regarding the ethnicity of perpetrators. In two-thirds of cases, this information is not recorded, making it impossible to draw conclusions at a national level. However, data from three areas - Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire - shows a disproportionate number of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds among suspects. This trend is also evident in local reviews and high-profile prosecutions across the country. The report calls for more effort to explore why this might be the case. The government has responded by making it a formal requirement to collect both ethnicity and nationality data for all cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation. They will also commission new research into the cultural and social drivers of the issue. Additionally, changes are being brought forward to reject asylum claims and deny refugee status to anyone convicted of sexual offences. The report recommends a full national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in England and Wales. This is a significant shift, as the Prime Minister had previously dismissed calls for such an inquiry. The report also suggests a national police operation to review cases of child exploitation that have not been acted upon. This operation would be overseen by an Independent Commission with full powers to compel witnesses to provide evidence. The report also calls for a tightening of the law in England and Wales. It recommends that adults who have sex with a child under 16 should always be charged with rape. This is to ensure that society sees children as children and not as potential partners. The Home Secretary has pledged to change the law as recommended and work with relevant services to ensure safeguards for consensual teenage relationships. Taxis have previously been identified as a way children can be at risk of sexual exploitation. The report points out that some areas have more stringent processes to protect children, such as introducing taxi cameras and safeguarding tests for drivers. However, these efforts have been hindered by more lax approaches in other areas and legal loopholes. The report calls for this loophole to be closed immediately and for more rigorous licensing standards to be introduced.