We worry about children, whether they're warm, whether they're happy and most importantly whether they're safe. Regardless of whether they're at school, playing with friends or even grown adults, the worrying never leaves us.
And there can be few thoughts more harrowing than those of children suffering at the hands of predators who exploit them for sexual gratification or profit.
I recently visited 'Safer Futures' in Salford, a counselling centre run by Barnardo's for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. I met the staff who work tirelessly to support and counsel children and young people recovering from the most harrowing experiences.
While I was there I spoke to Sarah, who got involved with the wrong people following a family breakdown and found herself at 15 being groomed by older people towards a life of drugs and prostitution. Thankfully she was referred to Barnardo's in time and has completely turned her life around. She went back to school, did her GCSEs, gained qualifications at college and is now doing an apprenticeship. She is also now helping countless others by speaking about her experience and helping to train frontline professionals that come into contact with vulnerable young people just like her.
Visiting places like Safer Futures, and hearing cases like Sarah's, makes me ever more determined to wipe out these heinous crimes. Children should be able to grow up free from the horrors of sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Something that should go without saying, but sadly that's not the case.
Since 2010 the Government has done more than any other to tackle these horrific offences. We have increased support for victims of sexual abuse, invested in training and technology to improve law enforcement's response to abuse both on and offline, and brought in a tougher inspection regime to ensure all front-line professions are meeting their child protection duties.
Meanwhile the National Crime Agency (NCA) has developed new tools to safeguard children and identify online child sexual abuse offenders and nearly doubled its investigative capacity thanks to Home Office funding.
We have also strengthened the law around child trafficking, bringing in tougher sentences for traffickers and creating slavery and trafficking prevention orders to restrict their behaviour, like their ability to travel in and out of the UK.
We have already seen promising results: In 2015 there were 14% more defendants prosecuted and 19% more convicted for child sexual abuse than in the previous year. Better police recording and a greater willingness of victims to come forward has also contributed to a 130% increase in the number of child sexual abuse offences reported over the past five years – and a 25% increase in the past year alone. But these statistics in themselves are obviously worrying as one abused child is one too many.
We have made progress, but I know we must continue to expand our efforts until no child is outside of protection and no offender out of reach - so, we will be investing a further £40 million to tackle child sexual abuse and child trafficking. This investment includes £20m to help the NCA crack down on online sexual predators.
I will begin a nationwide rollout of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates who will provide specialist support to trafficked children, starting in three sites across the country. In addition, £2.2m will be made available to help protect vulnerable children who are at risk of trafficking.
I am also launching a new Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, a consortium of health, law enforcement, social care professionals and charities which will be led by Barnardo's. This will be a go-to source of authoritative, evidence-based guidance and information for those wanting to find out how best to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse, and how best to support survivors.
All these measures will further improve our ability to protect children, and under my watch, I am determined to bring those who would try to steal their childhood to justice.
The Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism, Sarah Newton MP, will be posting replies to users' questions at 2.30pm on Friday.
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