A nationwide Inquiry by the Office of the Children's Commissioner has found that 2,409 children and young people were confirmed victims of child sexual exploitation in gangs or groups in the 14 month period from August 2010 to October 2011.
The Inquiry also identified that between April 2010 and March 2011 there were 16,500 children in England who were at high risk of child sexual exploitation. This is the equivalent of twenty medium-sized secondary schools.
"I thought I was the only one. The only one in the world", the report of the first year's findings of a two year Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups, publishes the most comprehensive investigation to date of the scale, scope and prevalence of child sexual exploitation in these contexts in England.
The conclusions are drawn from extensive evidence submitted by the Government, police, local authorities, health services, voluntary sector agencies and children and young people themselves.
The Office of the Children's Commissioner has called for urgent action to protect vulnerable children from all forms of sexual exploitation.
For further information on defending against criminal allegations of sexual offences please contact our solicitors Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan.