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Tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation: update

Source: Home Office published on this website Wednesday 9 April 2025 by Jill Powell

Minister Phillips delivered a speech on the government's plan to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation yesterday 8 April 2025

“With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement updating the House on government action to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation and on progress on the recommendations of the Independent inquiry.

“Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most horrific and disturbing crimes – an abuse of power against those who are most vulnerable, leaving lifelong trauma and scars.

“Best estimates suggest that 500,000 children are sexually abused every year. Analysis by the police found that there were 115,000 recorded cases of child sexual abuse in 2023, 4228 group-based offences identified by the CSE Taskforce, of which 1125 were family abuse, and 717 were sexual exploitation cases. In a growing number of recorded cases the perpetrators themselves are under 18.

“The House will be aware that, in its first year of operation up to March 2024, the Grooming Gangs Taskforce contributed to 550 arrests across the country. I can tell the House that – in the last 9 months of 2024 – the Taskforce contributed to 597 arrests, in other words it surpassed in that 9 month period what it has achieved in its first full year of its operation. Data for the first 3 months of this year is currently being collected from forces and will available early next month, but all round, we are making progress at every level to increase the number of investigations, increase the number of arrests, and most importantly, increase the number of victims who are seeing their attackers brought to justice.

“Yet despite the seriousness and severity of these crimes, there has been a shameful failure by institutions and those in power over many years to protect children from abuse or exploitation. So we are today setting out a progress update on action the government is taking to tackle Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to get support and justice for victims to ensure perpetrators are caught and put behind bars.

CSA measures

“Action on CSA since the election means we are introducing:

a new child sexual abuse police performance framework, including new standards on public protection, child abuse and exploitation
legislating targeting online offending, including abuse and grooming enabled by AI (Artificial Intelligence)
new powers for Border Force to detect digitally held child sex abuse at the UK border
new restrictions preventing registered sex offenders from changing their names to hide the threat they pose
increased investment in law enforcement capability, through the Police Undercover Online Network and the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme

“In the Home Secretary’s statements to the House in January, she also set out what we are doing to crack down on grooming gangs. And today I can provide an update:

“Baroness Casey’s 3 month National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse is ongoing. It is building a comprehensive national picture of what is known about child sexual exploitation, identifying local and national trends, assessing the quality of the data, looking at the ethnicity issues faced for example by cases involving Pakistani heritage gangs, and reviewing police and wider agency understanding.

“We are developing a new best practice framework to support local authorities which want to undertake victim-centred local inquiries, or related work, drawing on the lessons from local independent inquiries like Telford, Rotherham and Greater Manchester. We will publish the details next month.

“Alongside this we will set out the process through which local authorities can access the £5 million national fund to support locally-led work on grooming gangs. Following feedback from local authorities, the fund will adopt a flexible approach to support both full independent local inquiries and more bespoke work, including local victims’ panels or locally led audits into the handling of historic cases.

“The Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Gavin Stephens, has – at the Home Secretary’s request – urged the chief constables of all 43 police forces in England and Wales, to reexamine their investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation which resulted in no further action decisions.

“And, as of 1 April, the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel can review child sexual abuse cases which took place after 2013. Victims and survivors can now ask the Panel to independently review their case if they have not already exercised their Victims Right to Review.

“I can also announce that we intend to expand the Independent Child Trafficking guardians’ scheme across all of England and Wales, providing direct support to many more child victims of sexual exploitation and grooming, which to date has only been available in selected areas.

“These measures will enable more victims and survivors to receive the truth, justice, improvements and accountability that they deserve – and put more vile perpetrators of this crime behind bars.

IICSA Inquiry

“Much of this crucial activity builds on the vital work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse undertaken between 2015 and 2022. Let me – on behalf of this whole House – thank again Professor Alexis Jay for chairing that 7-year national inquiry with such expertise, diligence and compassion.

“IICSA revealed the terrible suffering caused by child sexual abuse and the shameful failure of institutions to put the protection of children before the protection of their own reputations.

“The inquiry drew on the testimony of over 7,000 victims and survivors and considered over 2 million pages of evidence.

Its findings, culminating in the final report published in October 2022, were designed to better protect children from sexual abuse and address the shortcomings which left them exposed to harm.

“The publication of that final report two and a half years ago should have been a landmark moment. But instead, the victims and survivors were failed again.

“None of the inquiry’s recommendations were implemented or properly taken forward by the previous government in the 20 months they had to do so.

Progress update

“As part of today’s progress update, the government is setting out a detailed update and timetable on the work that is underway on the IICSA recommendations as part of our action on child sexual abuse. I can announce to the House that:

to prioritise the protection of children and improve national oversight and consistency of child protection practice, this government will establish a new Child Protection Authority
building on the national Child Safeguarding Review Panel, the Child Protection Authority will address one of IICSA’s central recommendations by providing national leadership and learning on child protection and safeguarding. Work to expand the role of the Panel will begin immediately and we will consult on developing the new Authority this year
we have also asked Ofsted, HMICFRS and the CQC to conduct a joint thematic review of child abuse in family settings starting this Autumn

“Mr Speaker, the IICSA report recommended the introduction of a new mandatory duty to report – something the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and I have all supported for more than a decade.

“In the Crime and Policing Bill we will now be taking forward the new mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse for individuals in England undertaking activity with children – and crucially, a new criminal offence of obstructing an individual from making a report under that duty.

“Mandatory reporting will create a culture of openness and honesty rather than cover-ups and secrecy. It will empower professionals and volunteers to take prompt, decisive action to report sexual abuse. It will demonstrate to children and young people that if they come forward, they will be heard. And anyone who seeks deliberately to prevent someone fulfilling their mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse will face the full force of the law.

“Today’s update also sets out how the government is supporting victims and survivors in accessing support and seeking justice:

we are tasking the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates to carry out a targeted inspection on the experiences of victims of child sexual abuse in the criminal justice system
we are instructing the Information Commissioner’s Office to produce a code of practice on the retention of personal data relating to child sexual abuse

“In some cases where there have been serious institutional failings which contributed to the abuse, those institutions have provided financial redress schemes or compensation to victims and survivors who are affected. We continue to support those schemes as recognition by those institutions that they badly failed children in their care.

“On the IICSA proposal for a wider national redress scheme for all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional settings, the scale of that proposal demands that it is considered in the context of the spending review later this year, and we will make further updates at that stage.

“But one crucial area where we want to make immediate progress is on the provision of therapeutic services for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. We will therefore bring forward proposals in the coming weeks to improve access to those services, with further details to be set out following the upcoming the spending review.

“Also ahead of the spending review, I can announce that – in this financial year – the Home Office will double the funding it provides for national services supporting adult survivors of child sexual abuse, providing more help to those adults who are living with the trauma of the horrific abuse they suffered as children.

“Finally, we want to speed up progress to make it easier for victims and survivors to get recompense directly from institutions that failed them. We are therefore removing the 3-year limitation period on victims and survivors bringing personal injury claims in the civil courts and shifting the burden of proof from survivors to defendants, thereby protecting victims from having to relive their trauma to get compensation they are owed.

Next steps/conclusion

“Mr Speaker, today’s update – building on the measures the Home Secretary announced in January – demonstrates this government’s steadfast commitment to tackling child sex abuse.

“The measures we are implementing will protect more children, find more criminals, and deliver support and justice to more victims and survivors.

“But this is not the end point; it is just the beginning. We will continue to drive forward reforms to protect more children from abhorrent abuse and support more adult survivors of these traumatic crimes.”

Water safety advice as warmer weather continues, not just for London

Source: Metropolitan Police published on this website Tuesday 8 April 2025 by Jill Powell

As warmer weather returns to London and more people are out enjoying the sunshine, the Met’s Marine Policing Unit (MPU) is raising awareness of the dangers of entering the capital’s waterways.

Chief Inspector Rob Ranstead, who leads the Met’s MPU, said: “We absolutely understand the natural draw of rivers, lakes and open water across the city. However, we have sadly seen a recent rise in incidents where people have got into difficulty - and very tragically, some have lost their lives.

“So I want to make a direct appeal to the public: please enjoy London’s waterways safely, but never underestimate the risks.

“Open water may appear calm and inviting, but it can be dangerously deceptive. Strong currents, sudden drops, hidden hazards and cold-water shock can affect even the strongest swimmers. Once a person is in the Thames, for example, they will almost definitely struggle to keep afloat or in control. The river holds currents stronger than any person and moves at extreme speeds. The water may look calm but the tides are extremely strong and fast, able to easily drag someone a mile in just ten minutes.”

Our key advice is simple but potentially lifesaving:

Do not swim in open water unless it is part of a supervised and safe environment.
Never enter the water under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Talk to your children and young people about the risks—many incidents involve teenagers during school breaks or weekends.

Chief Inspector Ranstead added: “Our officers patrol the River Thames and many of London’s waterways on a daily basis. We see the heartbreak and devastation these preventable tragedies cause – with families changed forever in a matter of seconds. Working with partners we are increasing our visibility and delivering water safety education, but we need the help of the public. Please respect the water, look after one another, and think twice before taking unnecessary risks.”

On average the Met’s MPU is called to over 140 incidents each month on the River Thames. They work with partner agencies such as the RNLI, HM Coastguard, Port of London Authority, Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum and London Fire Brigade, to help keep the tidal stretch of the Thames safe for Londoners.

+ If you find yourself in the water please follow the RNLI’s ‘Float to Live’ steps:

- If you fall into water, fight your instinct to thrash around.

- Lean back, extend your arms and legs.

- If you need to, gently move them around to help you float.

- Float until you can control your breathing.

- Only then, call for help or swim to safety.

Changes to social care inspections aimed at improving stability for vulnerable children

Source: Ofsted published on this site Friday 4 April 2025 by Jill Powell

From today (Friday 4 April), Ofsted is making some important changes to the way children’s social care providers are inspected, aimed at improving support for children with complex needs.

The changes to the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) are mainly for the benefit of children’s homes and fostering agencies. They are intended to encourage more homes and agencies to look after children with high or multiple needs, with added reassurance that this will not negatively affect their Ofsted rating.

Ofsted research published last year found that 91% of local authorities struggle to find suitable homes for children with complex needs. Some children wait months, or even years, for a stable placement. The research also found that concerns about Ofsted ratings were cited by local authorities as a frequent reason for homes rejecting referrals of children with complex needs. Local authorities felt that good and outstanding-rated homes in particular were hesitant to look after these children, due to fears of being downgraded at their next inspection.

As a result, children with complex needs are too often living far from family or friends, experiencing multiple moves, or are accommodated in unsuitable and unregistered homes.

The small number of changes to the SCCIF guidance, including the criteria which inspectors use to evaluate practice, will put a sharper focus on:

how providers promote and sustain stability for children, including those with high needs
a provider’s placement decisions, including how they balance the needs of a child requiring a placement with those of children already living in the home
the timeliness of a provider’s work to prepare children for their next move
how accurately placement decisions reflect a provider’s statement of purpose

The effectiveness of providers’ work with partners to achieve greater stability for children, especially for those at most risk of instability and uncertainty in their lives, will be central to inspections.

The updated framework reflects Ofsted’s commitment to putting children’s needs at the heart of the inspection process. The changes have been made following continued engagement with social care stakeholders, including people with lived experience of the care system.

Inspectors will be trained on the changes to inspection guidance, as part of the added reassurance that providers will not be unfairly penalised for taking in children with complex needs.

Ofsted previously published a blog about these changes.

Woman found guilty of shaking baby girl to death

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Monday 7 April 2025 by Jill Powell

A woman from Gloucestershire has been convicted of manslaughter in relation to the death of a baby.

In April 2020, shortly after the start of the Covid 19 lockdown, Melissa Wilband, 28, was living with her two young children, a two-year-old boy and five-month-old baby Lexi.

On the night of 12 April paramedics were called to the house, where Lexi was found showing signs consistent with trauma. She was taken to Gloucester Royal Hospital, before being transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

On 17 April Lexi’s ventilator was turned off, and she died on the morning on 18 April 2020.
Medical examination showed that Lexi died from bleeding in her brain caused by violent shaking. Evidence also revealed additional blood on Lexi’s brain from an earlier incident of shaking.

Following a trial she was found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at Bristol Crown Court.

Ann Hampshire of the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“Lexi’s life was tragically cut short by her mother, who should have loved and cared for her. Everyone who has been involved in this case has been deeply moved by the tragic circumstances of Lexi’s death.

“Throughout the case we have worked in close partnership with the police to ensure justice was secured for Lexi and that her mother has been held accountable for her actions. She will now be sentenced on 22 May 2025 at Bristol Crown Court.”

Dark web site taken offline as information on 63 users passed to UK forces

Source: National Crime Agency published on this website Wednesday 3 April 2025 by Jill Powell

Sixty-three UK-based users of a Dark Web site hosting child sexual abuse material have been identified following work by the National Crime Agency.

Police in Germany started an investigation into the site, Kidflix, which resembled a well-known video streaming service.

They identified 1275 users from around the world who had either paid for access to material through crypto currency, or earned access through uploading their own material where they would earn site specific credits which would allow them access to further child abuse imagery.

After receiving information from the German authorities in February, NCA officers identified 63 UK users who were active on the site and had used cryptocurrency to access CSA material. Investigators then provided the intelligence to 28 UK forces so action could be taken.

To date, 30 people have been arrested in the UK and the Dark Web site has been taken down by the German authorities.

NCA Senior Manager Neil Keeping said:

"With thanks to our law enforcement partners in Germany and Europol, a dangerous site hosting tens of thousands of child sexual abuse videos has been taken down.

"NCA intelligence officers worked quickly to identify the UK users of the site, providing a package of intelligence to forces across the country so arrests could be made and children could be safeguarded.

"Providing this global to local response is paramount in our role to protect children from child sexual abuse and criminals who seek out this content.

"We will continue to work with international law enforcement partners to disrupt the online platforms that operate on the dark web, purely for the sexual gratification of offenders, and ensure children are safeguarded from abuse."