Distinguish CSE risk from actual exploitation
The Department for Education and the Welsh Government must ensure that their updated national guidance makes clear that signs that a child is being sexually exploited must never be treated as indications that a child is only 'at risk' of experiencing this harm. In line with this, local authorities in England and in Wales should ensure that their assessment of risk and harm enables them to accurately distinguish between: children who are at risk of experiencing sexual exploitation; children who are experiencing or have already experienced sexual exploitation; and children who have experienced sexual exploitation and are at risk of experiencing further abuse.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartOn 30 June 2022, the UK government provided the Inquiry with its provisional response to this recommendation. The UK government stated its final response to this recommendation would be provided within six months of the report's publication date, by 1 August 2022, and it will then be available on the Inquiry's website. On 30 June 2022, the Welsh Government stated that the term 'child at risk' has a legal basis in Wales and is defined in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 as a child who 'is experiencing or is at risk of abuse'. Therefore, it stated that references to a child as 'at risk' in legislation and statutory guidance which inform practice are not intended to suggest that a child 'at risk' is not already experiencing abuse.
Progress Timeline
April 2025 government progress update: the Home Secretary announced updating the guidance on child sexual exploitation to ensure advice for those working with children remains relevant and informed by the latest available evidence.