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UK children suffered sex abuse on 'industrial scale' UK children suffered sex abuse on 'industrial scale'
(35 minutes later)
Children in the UK have suffered sexual abuse on an "industrial scale" with authorities failing to tackle the problem, David Cameron has said.Children in the UK have suffered sexual abuse on an "industrial scale" with authorities failing to tackle the problem, David Cameron has said.
Outlining plans to tackle child sexual exploitation, the PM accused people and organisations of "walking on by".Outlining plans to tackle child sexual exploitation, the PM accused people and organisations of "walking on by".
Teachers, councillors and social workers in England and Wales who fail to protect children could face up to five years in jail under the proposals.Teachers, councillors and social workers in England and Wales who fail to protect children could face up to five years in jail under the proposals.
And police will now prioritise sexual exploitation as a "national threat".And police will now prioritise sexual exploitation as a "national threat".
This means such abuse will be treated in a similar way to serious and organised crime, with police forces, chief constables and police and crime commissioners having a duty to collaborate in order to protect children.This means such abuse will be treated in a similar way to serious and organised crime, with police forces, chief constables and police and crime commissioners having a duty to collaborate in order to protect children.
The new measures would see the crime of "wilful neglect" extended to cover children's social care and education. Abused 'over and over'
Mr Cameron said the new criminal offence was part of the government's plan to make sure "this stops here". Mr Cameron, speaking at a summit called to address the issue after child exploitation scandals in Rotherham and Oxfordshire, said: "I think it's very important we take a step back and just recognise the horrific nature of what has happened in our country."
'Consequences' for failure The proposals coincide with the release of a serious case review into abuse of children in Oxfordshire that found as many as 373 children may have been the victims of sexual grooming in the county over the past 16 years.
He said: "I think it's very important we take a step back and just recognise the horrific nature of what has happened in our country. The investigation followed the prosecution of a sex gang of seven men who abused girls in Oxford between 2004 and 2012 and found that police and the local council made "many errors" in that case.
"Young girls - and they are young girls - being abused over and over again on an industrial scale, being raped, being passed from one bunch of perpetrators to another bunch of perpetrators. The new plans, which are going out to consultation, involve making it a criminal offence to wilfully neglect those at risk of, and victims of, child sexual abuse.
Social workers, education practitioners and local councillors would be covered by the sanction, which would be introduced as an extension of the crime of wilful neglect of patients by care workers in this year's Criminal Justice and Courts Act.
The prime minister added: "Young girls - and they are young girls - being abused over and over again on an industrial scale, being raped, being passed from one bunch of perpetrators to another bunch of perpetrators.
"And all the while this has happened with too many organisations and too many people walking on by."And all the while this has happened with too many organisations and too many people walking on by.
"And we have got to really resolve that this stops here, it doesn't happen again and we recognise abuse for what it is.""And we have got to really resolve that this stops here, it doesn't happen again and we recognise abuse for what it is."
Speaking to the BBC, he added that "if professionals fail, there need to be consequences".Speaking to the BBC, he added that "if professionals fail, there need to be consequences".
Under the proposals would also be unlimited fines for individuals and organisations shown to have let children down.
The government's proposals - also to include a national helpline being set up to enable professionals to report bad practice - are a response to child abuse scandals, including those in Rotherham and Oxfordshire.
The plans were unveiled at a meeting in Downing Street - attended by victims, survivors' groups, ministers, police chiefs, council leaders, child protection experts, and health and social care providers.The plans were unveiled at a meeting in Downing Street - attended by victims, survivors' groups, ministers, police chiefs, council leaders, child protection experts, and health and social care providers.
Labour has criticised the plans as a "missed opportunity" however, saying the government is not going far enough. The proposals also include:
The plans, which are going out to consultation, involve making it a criminal offence to wilfully neglect those at risk of, and victims of, child sexual abuse. 'Radical overhaul'
Social workers, education practitioners and local councillors would be covered by the sanction, which would be introduced as an extension of the crime of wilful neglect of patients by care workers in this year's Criminal Justice and Courts Act. Labour has criticised the plans as a "missed opportunity", saying the government is not going far enough.
The Department of Health has also published new guidance on the role of school nursing services in preventing child sexual exploitation. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called on the government to create a new offence of child exploitation, saying: "We need a radical overhaul of our child protection system, but I fear this is a missed opportunity to get all the reforms we need."
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has called on the government to create a new offence of child exploitation.
She said: "We need a radical overhaul of our child protection system, but I fear this is a missed opportunity to get all the reforms we need."
Labour also wants to see the introduction of mandatory reporting, which would impose a legal duty to report child abuse.Labour also wants to see the introduction of mandatory reporting, which would impose a legal duty to report child abuse.
Analysis: Sanchia Berg, reporter, Today programme
In November 2013, the BBC's Panorama looked at the case for mandatory reporting of child abuse in institutions.
We uncovered files in the National Archives showing that as long ago as 1951, senior government officials knew schools and orphanages routinely covered up the sexual abuse of children - and that the law was no deterrent.
We reported a case from the 1990s, at a boarding school, where a member of staff had sexually assaulted several boys.
It had been reported to the headmaster, he'd left - and later found a job at another boarding school where he abused more children.
The police officer investigating the case, Alec Love, had tried to bring a case of "wilful neglect" against the headmaster of the first school, but the judge had thrown it out. Mr Love said it was very hard "to prove that the person wilfully set about to neglect the child or young person".
According to lawyer Liz Dux, of Slater and Gordon, that is the problem too with the new version of "wilful neglect" being proposed now. She argues only mandatory reporting of child abuse allegations will be effective.
Anne Longfield, the new Children's Commissioner for England, said there were "worrying levels" of abuse taking place across the country.
She told BBC Breakfast: "I think this is a very clear and symbolic signal that things need to change.
"We can't have this situation where children suffering one of the most horrendous crimes you can think of, as young as 11 or 12, are being systematically ignored if they present to you."
An independent report found that at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham by gangs of men who were predominantly of Pakistani origin between 1997 and 2013.An independent report found that at least 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham by gangs of men who were predominantly of Pakistani origin between 1997 and 2013.
The report author Professor Alexis Jay said that girls as young as 11 were raped by "large numbers of male perpetrators".The report author Professor Alexis Jay said that girls as young as 11 were raped by "large numbers of male perpetrators".
Prof Jay, who is taking part in Tuesday's summit, said the issue had been made worse in some cases by the attitude of professionals. Prof Jay, who took part in Tuesday's summit, said the issue had been made worse in some cases by the attitude of professionals.
She said: "Social workers were found to describe the issues as being lifestyle choices by some of the children and young people concerned.She said: "Social workers were found to describe the issues as being lifestyle choices by some of the children and young people concerned.
"And the police, in my experience, certainly were extremely derogatory in the way they addressed and described the young people concerned.""And the police, in my experience, certainly were extremely derogatory in the way they addressed and described the young people concerned."
'Earlier intervention needed'
David Greenwood, a solicitor who represents 39 victims of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, said: "This is just the beginning of a war against exploiters. There are still many stories to emerge and abusers are still walking the streets.David Greenwood, a solicitor who represents 39 victims of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, said: "This is just the beginning of a war against exploiters. There are still many stories to emerge and abusers are still walking the streets.
"Without sustained effort, a generation of children are at risk of having their lives ruined.""Without sustained effort, a generation of children are at risk of having their lives ruined."
'Earlier intervention needed'
David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said "abuse needs to be taken seriously on a national level".David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association's children and young people board, said "abuse needs to be taken seriously on a national level".
He said: "There is no question that those who are responsible for failing vulnerable children should be held to account... but we need to move on from the muddled situation councils currently face, so the detail of today's proposals is important to get right."He said: "There is no question that those who are responsible for failing vulnerable children should be held to account... but we need to move on from the muddled situation councils currently face, so the detail of today's proposals is important to get right."
The LGA has called for multi-agency inspections of organisations involved in child protection. Maris Stratulis, England manager at the British Association of Social Workers said: "We totally support public accountability and transparency so welcome any measures that will make it easier for social workers and other professionals to whistle blow."
Maris Stratulis, England manager at the British Association of Social Workers said: "We totally support public accountability and transparency so welcome any measures that will make it easier for social workers and other professionals to whistle blow.
"By their very nature, local authorities are political places. Social workers can find themselves hamstrung by fear of repercussions when speaking out.
"When they do raise concerns within an organisation, they also have little influence on what action will be taken.
"We have to be realistic; social workers go into the job to help children but they are human and are themselves vulnerable within the workplace."
She added that further discussions would be needed to determine what constitutes corporate and individual responsibility.
A serious case review into the Oxfordshire abuse was published on Tuesday and found that up to 373 victims may have been abused in the county over the past 16 years.