By Ben Kerrigan-
Rishi Sunak has also promised the “toughest possible sentences” for grooming gang members and their ring leaders under the new measures unveiled on Monday
Rishi Sunak will travel to northern England on Monday (April 3) to announce a new set of measures the Government says will protect young women and girls from sexual abuse, which will also see ethnicity data used to support police investigations.
Part of the plan will see specialist officers assist local police forces to solve child sexual exploitation investigations as part of a new grooming gangs taskforce, as Sunak warned that for too long “political correctness has stopped us from weeding out vile criminals who prey on children and young women”.
He vowed: “We will stop at nothing to stamp out these dangerous gangs.”
Sunak will also say that grooming gang members and leaders will receive the toughest sentences possible, with the introduction of new legislation that would make membership an aggravated factor in sentencing. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Grooming gangs are a scourge on our society and I want to send a clear message to anyone who exploits vulnerable children that they will face the full weight of the law.
“This builds on the extensive action this Government has already taken to introduce tougher sentencing, and the reforms introduced last week in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars, while making sure victims get the support they need at all times.”
The announcements come after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse last year described sexual abuse of children as an “epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake”
Ethnicity data will also be used to support police investigations, with Mr Sunak warning that for too long “political correctness has stopped us from weeding out vile criminals who prey on children and young women”.
“We will stop at nothing to stamp out these dangerous gangs,” he said.
The Government said the new taskforce will be made up of officers with “extensive experience” of undertaking grooming gang investigations.
They will be “parachuted in” to provide crucial support to forces across the country to “root out grooming gangs and put more perpetrators behind bars,”, it added.
The taskforce will be supported by the National Crime Agency. Data analysts will work alongside it, using cutting-edge data and intelligence to identify the types of criminals who carry out these offences, helping police forces across the country catch offenders who might otherwise be missed.
This will also include police recorded ethnicity data to make sure suspects cannot evade justice because of cultural sensitivities.
Better data on the make-up of grooming gangs, including ethnicity, to make sure suspects cannot hide behind cultural sensitivities as a way to evade justice, will also be included.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for child abuse, said: “We have made significant improvements in how we respond to child sexual exploitation in the past decade. The Government’s formation of a new taskforce will help enhance our action against offenders acting in groups and protect children from these appalling crimes.
“Child abusers come from all parts of our society and sadly most abuse happens in the home; police forces target all offenders – no matter who they are or where they come from.
“Our police action needs to be supported by individuals acting on and reporting concerns and organisations treating their duties to protect children with the utmost seriousness. It should also be supported by a rigorous legal duty on tech companies to keep children safe online and report more offenders. The Online Safety Bill is a critical opportunity to achieve this and make our society safer for children.”
The Prime Minister will launch the taskforce later today. To mark this, he will be in Leeds and Greater Manchester to meet survivors, local police partners and members of the new taskforce.
Alongside the new taskforce, the Prime Minister has pledged to make sure grooming gang members and their ring leaders receive the toughest possible sentences.
Legislation will be introduced to make being the leader of or involved in a grooming gang a statutory aggravating factor during sentencing. .
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “Grooming gangs are a scourge on our society and I want to send a clear message to anyone who exploits vulnerable children that they will face the full weight of the law.
“This builds on the extensive action this Government has already taken to introduce tougher sentencing, and the reforms introduced last week in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars, while making sure victims get the support they need at all times.”
Today’s announcement follows on from the Home Secretary’s commitment to bring in mandatory reporting for adults working with children if they suspect or identify that child is being abused. By ensuring people speak out if they have concerns, authorities can stop the abuse, put perpetrators behind bars and get victims the support they need much sooner, she said.
Mandatory reporting was one the key recommendations in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Inquiry chair Professor Alexis Jay OBE said: “The Prime Minister’s statement today places a renewed focus on tackling the sexual abuse and exploitation of children by organised networks.
“I welcome these announcements, some of which reflect the recommendations of the Inquiry’s own report on child sexual exploitation in 2022.
“The commitment to mandatory reporting is very encouraging, and I look forward to working with the Government to ensure that the full package of the Inquiry’s recommendations in its Final Report is taken forward to better protect children from sexual abuse in the future.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes facing our society, it devastates victims, families and whole communities.
“The protection of children is a collective effort. Every adult must be supported to call out child sexual abuse without fear.
“And the despicable abusers must be brought to justice. They should not be able to hide. And they must face the full force of the law for their crimes.
“That’s why I’m introducing a mandatory reporting duty and launching a call for evidence. We must address the failures identified by the Inquiry and take on board the views of the thousands of victims and survivors who contributed to its findings.
“I would encourage everyone to engage with the process once it starts – it is important to have a national conversation about this to shine a light on this terrible – but too often hidden – crime.”
She said alongside the mandatory reporting duty, they were also bolstering support for the NSPCC’s whistleblowing helpline, as well as its public helpline, giving professionals and members of the public a voice to raise concerns about children, or about child grooming in their community.