Sexual exploitation risk warning

Children's charity Barnardo's said that two years on from its study highlighting the dangers faced by the capital's 1,000 most vulnerable youngsters, their situation had not improved.

The Government had failed to make sexual exploitation a policing priority, to ensure new legislation is used to bring abusers to justice and to provide long term funding for services, the charity said.

The Forgotten and Failed report looked at the different forms of sexual exploitation, which range from youngsters who are in exploitative relationships receiving money, drugs or accommodation in return for sex with one or more men, to children who are involved in more "formal" prostitution.

It revealed that most sexually exploited children in the capital have no access to specialist support services to help them escape their situation, with only three existing in the city.

Barnardo's also warned vulnerable young people were ending up criminalised because they were too scared to name their abusers. And despite the introduction in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 of three new offences to prosecute adults who sexually exploit children, it does not appear to have improved the situation, the report said.

Between 2003 and the end of 2005, there were 425 recorded offences of sexual grooming across England and Wales but no prosecutions, and only 35 of "abusing children by prostitution".

Barnardo's wants to see a specialist lead police officer for every borough in London with responsibility for sexual exploitation, as well as training for frontline staff on the issue. The charity is also calling for resources to implement in all boroughs the London Safeguarding Children Board's protocols aimed at protecting children at risk.

Funding is also needed for the specialist services which would enable youngsters to escape sexual exploitation, the charity said.

Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey said: "Sexual exploitation of children and young people is much more prevalent in London than most of its citizens appreciate. Some of the capital's most vulnerable children suffer at the hands of adults who, all too often, suffer no consequences following their abuse of some of the most vulnerable children in London. These may not always be the most attractive or loveable children, but they are children and they are failed and forgotten by us."