Police forces don't understand child safeguarding (part34563)

RedToothBrush · 2024-02-09T07:29:16+00:00

New report telling us something we already knew. The Met Police are singled out for being particularly bad: ^Most investigations into child exploitation were rated as inadequate by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Of the 244 cases it examined, 43 were graded as good, more than half (121) as inadequate and 80 as needing improvement.^ ^HMIC decided the situation was so dire that it told the Met to improve in three areas, helping to keep the force in special measures, and it said it would reinspect to check that promised improvements had happened.^ And ^Among the failings was victim-blaming language among officers and staff, with 55 examples found from files recently examined, including a 14-year-old girl described as “seeking out sex with older men”, a 15-year-old girl referred to as “engaged in sex work” and a 12-year-old girl who had been raped described as “sexually active with older men”.^ ^^ ^In other cases children were described as “making poor choices” or “placing herself at risk”. HMIC said: “This fails to recognise an imbalance of power with the person exploiting them or coercion that may be used to keep them away from home.”^ And ^In another instance, a 14-year-old girl believed to be involved in class A drug supply had been missing for 20 days before the force decided she was at high risk.^ ^Inspectors found concerned parents begging for help after their children had been missing for days were often fobbed off by officers.^ ^One mother who reported the sexual exploitation of her 15-year-old daughter was told to take her child to the GP and ask for a referral to children's social care services.^ ^Another mother who offered police evidence that her 14-year-old daughter was being groomed by a man offering her money for sex was told that the victim would have to report the matter herself.^ ^When the mother persisted, the report was passed between six officers in a month but nothing was done before the child went missing again.^ ^Officers and staff were found to use 'victim-blaming language' in 12 per cent of exploitation cases, with one detective speaking of 'children being promiscuous'.^ ^In other cases, a 14-year-old girl was described as 'seeking out sex with older men' and a 12-year-old girl who had been raped was described as 'sexually active with older men'.^ Women and girls are not listened to by the police. The idea that the police can not grasp basic safeguarding and the law when it comes to children is appalling but not remotely surprising. No wonder coercive control isn't on the police radar at all ^^

HermioneWeasley · 09/02/2024 07:32

I’m starting to think that decent police officers are the exception

Hoardasurass · 09/02/2024 07:46

HermioneWeasley · 09/02/2024 07:32

I’m starting to think that decent police officers are the exception

Unfortunately I've felt this way for a long time

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

MrsOvertonsWindow · 09/02/2024 09:24

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

You're completely missing the point. This is the attitude that led to all the organised abuse in Rotherham and countless other cities continuing for so long. I sat through endless interagency conferences at the time with the police, social services in attendance where it was drummed into us that these are children below the age of consent and that focusing on their alleged collusion or complicity was what led to them being seen as guilty rather than victims of coercive control and grooming by adults.

The fact that the Met still ignore children's right to protection from expoitation and focus on them as complicit in their abuse is unforgivable and as evidenced, leads to abuse continuing.

anothernamitynamenamechange · 09/02/2024 09:33

As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles

Children. Not young women. Children.

(and yes sometimes adults will call children young women/young men and its just a turn of phase to be nice. Completely different context when talking about the sexual abuse of a 12 year old Child)

StopGo · 09/02/2024 09:43

Around 50% of those officers (constables and senior officers) are women.

StephanieSuperpowers · 09/02/2024 09:50

StopGo · 09/02/2024 09:43

Around 50% of those officers (constables and senior officers) are women.

Yeah, and the Magdalen Laundries were run by women. So many women ready to throw other women and girls under the bus in the service of misogynistic beliefs.

Chersfrozenface · 09/02/2024 09:51

It's all the parents' fault, I expect, for not respecting their offspring's valid choices.

And after all, police forces don't want to be called whorephobic

/sarcasm off/

FFS, this is where queer theory gets us

ILoveMyCatButHesAPervert · 09/02/2024 09:54

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

And here's the thinking that allows this absolute dereliction of duty towards these children. ⬆️

DownWithBigBrother · 09/02/2024 10:06

Children can't be 'involved in sex work'. Have a fucking word with yourself.

theilltemperedclavecinist · 09/02/2024 11:04

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

None of this excuses the delays in acting. If the girls are making bad choices that makes rescuing them more urgent, not less.

And why are the police ignoring the real criminals - rapists, traffickers, groomers, drug pushers, and pimps - behind it?

Also, 'twelve-year-old girl is sexually active with older men'? Really? No problem with that? Here's a clue. How about if it said 'six-year-old' instead?

Dumbo12 · 09/02/2024 11:12

Do the police not know that the age of consent is 16 in this country?

SinnerBoy · 09/02/2024 11:32

theilltemperedclavecinist

Also, 'twelve-year-old girl is sexually active with older men'? Really? No problem with that?

Yes, so what if she was seeking encounters with grown men? The why barely matters, it's the what. They should be hunting down the bastards responsible, not basically calling her an uncontrollable scrubber, FFS.

Maaate · 09/02/2024 11:53

Anyone else getting 'but we just don't know' vibes

NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/02/2024 11:57

Rather strong ones.

sockarefootwear · 09/02/2024 12:00

SinnerBoy · 09/02/2024 11:32

theilltemperedclavecinist

Also, 'twelve-year-old girl is sexually active with older men'? Really? No problem with that?

Yes, so what if she was seeking encounters with grown men? The why barely matters, it's the what. They should be hunting down the bastards responsible, not basically calling her an uncontrollable scrubber, FFS.

Exactly. A child who appears to be seeking inappropriate encounters with adults is a sign that the child is vulnerable. That means she needs to be protected and those take advantage of her vulnerability should be stopped and prevented from taking advantage of other vulnerable children. It does not mean that she is to blame for her own abuse or that her abusers are less culpable.

StephanieSuperpowers · 09/02/2024 12:32

SinnerBoy · 09/02/2024 11:32

theilltemperedclavecinist

Also, 'twelve-year-old girl is sexually active with older men'? Really? No problem with that?

Yes, so what if she was seeking encounters with grown men? The why barely matters, it's the what. They should be hunting down the bastards responsible, not basically calling her an uncontrollable scrubber, FFS.

Yes. Children who are acting in sexually precocious ways are not just a different species of child who naturally just seeks sex but is a child who has been abused and trained to behave in this manner to please adult abusers. That anyone in the police could be unaware of this is shocking.

thedankness · 09/02/2024 12:33

This child whore/Lolita trope has no place in the justice system in 2024. It seems so archaic it's hard to understand how it's still going on.

Chersfrozenface · 09/02/2024 13:01

The above is an old-established attitude bolstered by the "progressive" agenda espoused by police forces.

"Children as sexual beings" is one of the main planks of Queer Theory.

Original poster

RedToothBrush · 09/02/2024 13:01

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

It's also factually accurate to say that a twelve year old cant legally consent...

OP posts:

User19798 · 09/02/2024 13:11

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

You are literally the problem. You.
Children being raped by men. Children. I work with these children. You need to have a long think about why you think children are working as prostitutes. The police do it because it is convenient and they are misogynistic. What's your reason?

MrsOvertonsWindow · 09/02/2024 13:35

Chersfrozenface · 09/02/2024 13:01

The above is an old-established attitude bolstered by the "progressive" agenda espoused by police forces.

"Children as sexual beings" is one of the main planks of Queer Theory.

This plus the influence of porn goes some way to explaining why we're going backwards and failing to protect children. After a period when safeguarding them was meant to be a national priority.

Goblinmodeactivated · 09/02/2024 13:39

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

you’re part of the problem. In one post you’ve managed to victim blame and also totally fail to recognise the power imbalance that these CHILDREN are in, they are vulnerable!!

It’s not lifestyles or sex work, it’s exploitation and abuse.

LolaSmiles · 09/02/2024 13:44

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case
A child is not "engaged in sex work".

A child is being sexually abused and exploited.

Why are you calling children "young women" by the way? It's a strange way to speak about children who are victims of CSE.

Children do not consent to their own exploitation and abuse.

OldCrone · 09/02/2024 14:04

mitogoshi · 09/02/2024 07:56

Those reports are still factually accurate - without reading it in full you don't know what else was written. They need to add context to a situation eg if the 15 year old was engaged in sex work, the police need to know this information so when they are questioning suspects in the crime reported they can be ready to counter the suspect's claims. As upsetting as it is, some young women are engaging is lifestyles which put them at high risk and this contextual information is important. This isn't victim shaming, it's facts of the case

An adult who has sex with a child under the age of 16 is committing a criminal offence.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/part/1/crossheading/child-sex-offences
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/part/1/crossheading/rape-and-other-offences-against-children-under-13

The child is a victim of crime, not a person who is choosing to 'engage in sex work'.

The explanatory notes make it clear that whether or not the child consented is irrelevant.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/pdfs/ukpgaen_20030042_en.pdf