Large rise in number of children seeking support for child sex exploitation

Numbers of children seeking help from Barnardo's in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE) has risen by 50 per cent in the space of a year, it has emerged reports CYPNow.

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Numbers of children seeking help from Barnardo's in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE) has risen by 50 per cent in the space of a year, it has emerged reports CYPNow. Statistics released by the charity show that in the 12 months to April 2015 the charity supported 3,175 CSE victims, up from 2,118 the previous 12 months – a rise of 49.9 per cent.

Barnardo’s is now calling on the new Conservative government to step up its fight against child sexual exploitation. The charity is calling for better training for teachers to give them greater confidence to deliver classes that tackle issues such as CSE and abuse.

Javed Khan, chief executive of Barnardo’s, said: “We must ensure the new UK government prioritises work that helps keeps our children safe from exploitation. Key to this is teaching young people about healthy relationships. Our specialist services are seeing more and more children who are identified as needing our help. Whenever and wherever we open a service we find children who urgently need our support.”

Khan said the “political momentum” from recent high-profile CSE scandals in Rotherham and Oxford must be maintained. “The new government in Westminster must work with local authorities, police, schools and parents across England to help keep young people safe and bring their abusers to justice,” he added.