KEY MEMBERS of the Thurrock based and internationally renowned centre against sexual violence, Sericc, travelled to Downing Street on Tuesday as the Prime Minister, David Cameron launched a key initiative in tackling child sexual exploitation.
Sheila Coates MBE, sat just a few seats along from the prime minister in the Cabinet room as he delivered the initiative in response to Professor Alexis Jay’s review into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, which was published last August.
The key actions outlined in the report include:
• A new whistleblowing national portal for child abuse related reports, which will help to bring child sexual exploitation to light and be able to spot patterns of failure across the country
• A new national taskforce, and a centre of expertise, to support areas that are struggling to get it right
• Consulting on an extension to the new ‘wilful neglect’ offence to children’s social care, education and elected members
• Giving child sexual abuse the status of a national threat in the Strategic Policing Requirement so that this is prioritised by every police force
Sheila Coates MBE, who attended the launch event at 10 Downing Street said:
“Rape Crisis welcomes any recognition of both the extent and the devastating impact of child sexual abuse on individuals and communities.
I hope today’s report does signal the ‘step change’ in approach to tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation that it promises; we know that no matter how good policies look on paper, it is how they translate on the frontline that really counts.
Now that the silence has been broken and child sexual abuse has been recognised by government as a national threat, dedicated funding to ensure all sexual violence victims and survivors have access to specialist, independent local support services must follow.
Rape Crisis centres have decades of experience providing specialist frontline services, including to those mistrustful of statutory services, but are historically and chronically under-supported by local funders and commissioners.
We must also face up to the glaring reality that ongoing revelations about child sexual exploitation are unmasking widespread institutional sexism, reflected for example in the dismissal of the abuse of vulnerable girls as ‘lifestyle choices’.
This sexism now needs to be tackled with the same rigour with which government and society rightly address institutional racism.”
Sheila Coates stated “The Prime Minister and the Home Secretary have met with a number of CSA / CSE victims / survivors – it is vital that lead officers (e.g. LA, Public Health) in local areas also meet with victims / survivors to hear their views of what accessing local statutory services is actually like.
"As Child Sexual Exploitation has now been designated a national threat, funding of care and support for victims and survivors should follow. Co-commissioning of local services is vital and urgent at this time of increasing referrals.
Thurrock, Health and Well-being Board, Clinical Commissioning Group, Overview and Scrutiny Panels, and Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards, need to ensure that all victims regardless of age, can access specialist, independent short medium and long term advocacy counselling”
