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Child sexual abuse civil court orders criticised Child sexual abuse civil court orders criticised
(about 7 hours later)
A system of civil court orders designed to prevent child sexual offending is "not fit for purpose", a report obtained by the BBC has concluded. Civil court orders designed to prevent sex offenders targeting children after they are released from prison are "not fit for purpose", a report has found.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) said the measures were "over-complicated". Child protection experts said orders preventing offenders going to areas near children, travelling abroad and using computers "failed to deliver".
Ceop instead called for a single civil order that could apply to offenders who have not been convicted. They found the "flaws" were most acute with orders banning overseas travel.
The report came as Ceop said it received nearly 19,000 reports of sexual abuse in 2012-13 - a record. This came as a specialist police unit said it had received a record 18,887 reports of sexual abuse in 2012-13.
'Disproportionately low''Disproportionately low'
The review said the system of Civil Prevention Orders was "failing to deliver" the quality of protection children deserved against sexual abuse. The review of civil court orders commissioned by Peter Davies, from the Association of Chief Police Officer (Acpo) and obtained by the BBC, was compiled by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), the police and legal experts on child protection.
The report examined three types of measures imposed by the courts to stop sex offenders going to certain areas, being near children or using computers. It found the use of such orders, designed to prevent sexual offending against children in the UK and abroad, was "grossly disproportionately low" compared to the total number of child sex offenders.
It found that the use of the court orders was "grossly disproportionately low" compared to the total number of child sex offenders. This was because the legal test that had to be satisfied was too high, the report said.
The report said this was because the legal test that had to be satisfied was too high. It said the "flaws" with the civil court orders were most acute with foreign travel orders under which convicted paedophiles can be banned from going abroad for up to five years.
The "flaws" were most acute with foreign travel orders under which convicted paedophiles can be banned from going abroad for up to five years.
Only 45 such orders had been issued in seven years despite what the report said was the "documented scale of the industry of child sexual exploitation internationally".Only 45 such orders had been issued in seven years despite what the report said was the "documented scale of the industry of child sexual exploitation internationally".
The report concluded: "These straightforward changes... would produce real benefits at no threat to human rights legislation. The report concluded the measures, put in place by Labour nine years ago, were "over-complicated" and should be replaced by a single civil order.
"Coupled with improved national and international police resources, the United Kingdom's duties to the world's most vulnerable and sexually exploited children would come closer to matching the public's legitimate expectations." It said some "straightforward changes" would produce "real benefits at no threat to human rights legislation".
The report was commissioned by Ceop chief executive Peter Davies and compiled by Ceop officials, the police and legal experts on child protection. "Coupled with improved national and international police resources, the United Kingdom's duties to the world's most vulnerable and sexually exploited children would come closer to matching the public's legitimate expectations," the report said.
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the report "pulls no punches".
The system of court orders, designed to prevent child sexual offending in the UK and abroad, was put in place by Labour nine years ago.
Internet threatInternet threat
Meanwhile, Ceop said in its annual report that it dealt with 18,887 reports of abuse over the past year, an average of 1,600 a month and an increase of 14% on the previous year.Meanwhile, Ceop said in its annual report that it dealt with 18,887 reports of abuse over the past year, an average of 1,600 a month and an increase of 14% on the previous year.
Ceop also safeguarded and protected a record 790 children - an 85% rise.Ceop also safeguarded and protected a record 790 children - an 85% rise.
The agency warned that the growing availability of high-speed internet around the world was likely to increase the threat of child sexual abuse. The agency warned the growing availability of high-speed internet around the world was likely to increase the threat of child sexual abuse.
Mr Davies said: "Despite our successes, we aren't complacent. Mr Davies, who is also chief executive of Ceop, said: "Despite our successes, we aren't complacent.
"We recognise that the world is constantly changing and offenders will continue to seek new ways to abuse children which is why our work with partners around the globe is constantly evolving to ensure we're always one step ahead of abusers."We recognise that the world is constantly changing and offenders will continue to seek new ways to abuse children which is why our work with partners around the globe is constantly evolving to ensure we're always one step ahead of abusers.
"The centre continues to prove its place on a global platform as one of the leading child sexual abuse law enforcement agencies, and through our commitment to prevent abuse, protect children and pursue offenders the UK's children are safer because of its vital work.""The centre continues to prove its place on a global platform as one of the leading child sexual abuse law enforcement agencies, and through our commitment to prevent abuse, protect children and pursue offenders the UK's children are safer because of its vital work."