Hosting a summit on child sexual exploitation in Downing Street today David Cameron said that children had been let down by ‘a culture of denial’ and unveiled new measures to protect children.
Child sexual abuse will now be prioritised as ‘a national threat’, and treated as equivalent to terrorism and organised crime, which means that police forces will now have a duty to share information and resources to safeguard children.
The Government will consult on extending the new criminal offence of ‘wilful neglect’ to children’s social care, education and elected officials.
A new national whistleblowing helpline for professionals will also be set up.
The Prime Minister said, ‘We have all been appalled at the abuse suffered by so many young girls in Rotherham and elsewhere across the country. Children were ignored, sometimes even blamed, and issues were swept under the carpet – often because of a warped and misguided sense of political correctness. That culture of denial which let them down so badly must be eradicated.
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