Sarah Champion Welcomes Government Adoption of her Five Point Plan for Addressing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has welcomed the Government announcement that it is to adopt her recommendations for addressing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. 

Sarah has campaigned to improve child protection and to bring to justice perpetrators of Child Sexual Exploitation throughout her Parliamentary career. She has been a leading voice in the fight to end CSE and has previously secured significant legislative change to better protect children. 

On Monday, Sarah published her recommendations to the Government, which include a locally led, national inquiry into grooming gangs. In a statement to the House of Commons, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that the Government would be implementing Sarah’s recommendations. 

Announcing the new measures, the Home Secretary said:

“Nothing matters more than the safety of our children.’

‘Yet for too long, this horrific abuse was allowed to continue. The victims were ignored. The perpetrators were left unpunished. Too many people looked the other way.’

‘And even when these shocking crimes were brought to light, and national inquiries were commissioned to get to the truth, the resulting reports were left on the shelf as their recommendations gathered dust.” 

Responding, Sarah highlighted the need for inquires to have sufficient power to investigate, saying: 

“What previous inquiries said they lacked, was the ability to compel witnesses. A big strand of what we need to do is make sure there have been no cover-ups and it is only if it is on a statutory footing that we can do that.”

Commenting following the announcement, Sarah said:

“I am delighted and relieved that the Government has adopted my recommendations for addressing Child Sexual Exploitation. We can prevent child abuse. Victims and Survivors have the solutions, but the legislative structures must be in place to implement them. We need properly resourced safeguarding and investigations that will confront abusers without fear or favour.’

‘We also need the trust of the public, and that means fully investigating past failures of those in authority and holding people to account. We cannot allow lingering suspicion to stand in the way of keeping children safe.’

‘I welcome the Government’s commitments today and the open, collaborative approach they have taken to my recommendations. I do remain concerned that, as initially announced, inquiries may lack statutory powers to compel witnesses, and this is a point I will be pushing with Ministers as plans develop.’ 

‘I will of course be closely scrutinising them to ensure that they deliver on our responsibilities to children and, most crucially, to the victims and survivors of this abhorrent crime.’ 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Sarah’s recommendations to the Government are available HERE