Give councils powers to issue banning orders to tackle CSE, says LGA
Joe Lepper
Friday, March 27, 2015
Councils should be given powers to tackle suspected sexual predators with child sexual exploitation (CSE) disruption orders, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
The LGA is calling for the next government to introduce the orders, which could be placed on anyone suspected of grooming children for sexual exploitation where there is not enough evidence for a conviction.
This could ban them from certain areas, such as near schools, playgrounds or parks, and be backed by the courts, with a breach of the order made a criminal offence.
David Simmonds, chair of the LGA's children and young people board, said: “Few parents would be comfortable if their children were spending their time in the company of older men and coming home with expensive gifts and smelling of alcohol. But the reality is that there have been concerned mums and dads who have had to stand by, powerless, as their children have been groomed by vile sexual predators.
“At present, sanctions to prevent the grooming of vulnerable children are too limited and we need to make it easier to intervene earlier before harm is done. By making it possible for councils to apply swiftly to the courts for an order to disrupt grooming, we can help prevent the lives of children being ruined by sexual exploitation.”
Simmonds also sought to allay civil liberties concerns over councils being granted such powers. He said: “We are not trying to pass a sentence before someone has been charged, nor do we intend to stop people from carrying out their normal daily activities. But we need to know children are safe from the menace of CSE.”
If implemented, the LGA envisages councils, schools and NHS bodies could apply to a magistrates' court for such an order. They would then have to show magistrates there are sufficient grounds to suspect sexual exploitation, although alleged victims would not be required to testify.
The call was backed by Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan.
He said: “Police and local authorities must have all the tools they need to tackle child sexual exploitation. Government must do whatever it takes to support them.
“It is vital that we intervene at the earliest possible stage to prevent perpetrators from gaining influence over vulnerable young people.”
Last year, Birmingham City Council was granted a civil injunction banning six men having contact with young girls who police believed they were grooming.
