Review into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation
A review into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation has highlighted challenges with the way key organisations deal with the scale, prevalence, characteristics, and threat of group-based harm.
The review, led by the Care Inspectorate and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE), looked at the issues of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation in Scotland.
The authors of the study, carried out at the direction of the Scottish Government, said there was a lack of accurate national data relating to group-based harms.
The report acknowledges that there is no nationally agreed definition of group-based harms meaning existing reporting arrangements were primarily focused on individual incidents of harm.
The absence of a national definition, consistent data collection and specific reporting requirements means neither partnerships nor national bodies can accurately determine the scale, prevalence, characteristics or threat posed by group-based child sexual abuse, exploitation or criminal exploitation.
The report found: “As a result, there is no reliable picture across Scotland of these types of harms.”
The work has highlighted the key challenges facing efforts to tackle these harms. However, partnerships involved in the work have already begun identifying areas for improvement at a local level to strengthen their understanding of exploitation risks and support more effective strategic oversight and decision-making.
The report makes a series of recommendations. It says the Scottish Government, in partnership with stakeholders across the sector, should:
- develop a national definition of what constitutes group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation
- update National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland to include the new national definition of what constitutes group-based harms, supported by enhanced child protection guidance and nationally agreed key indicators of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation
- implement standardised data collection on group-based harms with consistent reporting requirements in order to strengthen approaches. This includes identification, categorisation, prevalence, scale, and trend analysis to support strategic scrutiny at both local and national levels
- evaluate existing training to ensure that it consistently covers group-based harms as part of public protection arrangements
- develop and embed robust national arrangements to support the consistent and comprehensive collection and sharing of information and data on the prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation.
Ruth Binks, HM Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, said
“The report shows that there are strong foundations across Scotland, including established child protection arrangements, multi-agency working and a clear commitment to trauma-informed, child-centred practice. However, it also identifies important areas where further consistency is needed, particularly in relation to recognising and responding to group-based harms.
“A shared national definition, stronger data collection, clearer guidance and more consistent training will help practitioners across education and wider public services to better understand risks, share information effectively and protect children and young people from harm. HMIE will continue to work with scrutiny partners, the Scottish Government and local partnerships to support improvement and help ensure all children and young people are safe, heard and supported.”
Read the full report on the Care Inspectorate website .