Sexual Exploitation: Safeguarding boards to lead prostitution strategy

The Home Office's prostitution strategy, published yesterday (17January), outlines a series of measures designed to stop childrengetting into prostitution and to get those already involved out ofit.

As part of the plans, the boards will co-ordinate local efforts to raiseawareness among children and professionals. The boards will trainprofessionals in how to spot children who are involved in, or at risk ofinvolvement in, prostitution.

A Co-ordinated Prostitution Strategy also outlines plans to updateexisting guidance for local authorities to ensure information aboutsexual exploitation in the form of talks or leaflets are available inall areas.

Children's services, schools, health services and the police will alsobe encouraged to work together to increase efforts to proactivelyidentify children involved in prostitution. The strategy's emphasis onchildren is partially due to Home Office research that suggested half ofthose who get involved in prostitution start before they turn 16.