Legal Update: In a Nutshell - New measures tackle sexual exploitation

Background to the measures

The government has announced a package of new measures to tackle child sexual exploitation. At the heart of these measures will be criminal sanctions for those who fail to protect children from sexual exploitation. The measures form part of the government's national response in the wake of recent reports on the systematic institutional failings to respond to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and elsewhere. The government claims the new package will "ensure local areas have long-term practical plans to uncover child sexual exploitation... and bring more offenders to justice - or face tough consequences".

Accountability

The government outlines measures it claims will strengthen accountability of those who fail to fulfil their duty to protect children. These include introducing "an expectation" that all Local Safeguarding Children Boards will conduct regular local assessments on the effectiveness of responses to child sexual exploitation, the outcome of which will be published in their annual reports. These reports will be subjected to external analysis in an attempt to bring "greater scrutiny" to the system.