View source for Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom



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'''Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom'''  includes the proliferation of indecent images, online exploitation, transnational abuse, and contact abuse. Efforts to prevent [[child sexual abuse]] include providing information to children and parents, and disrupting abusive situations. Perpetrators may act alone or as part of a group or street gang, and may either exploit vulnerabilities in children and young people or have long-standing sexual attraction to children. Underreporting of child sexual abuse and low conviction rates remain barriers to justice, among other factors. In the UK, high-profile media coverage of child sexual abuse has often focused on cases of institutional and celebrity abuse, as well as offences committed by [[Child sex ring|organized groups of sexual abusers]].

Child sexual abuse has been reported in the country throughout its history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/child-welfare-child-protection-and-sexual-abuse-1918-1990|title=Child welfare, child protection and sexual abuse, 1918-1990|last=Delap|first=Lucy|date=30 July 2015|website=History & Policy|access-date=19 July 2016|archive-date=19 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719030746/http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/child-welfare-child-protection-and-sexual-abuse-1918-1990|url-status=live}}</ref> In about 90% of cases the abuser is a person known to the child.<ref name="nspcc_1" /> From the second half of the twentieth century, cases involving religious institutions,<ref name=sherwood /> schools,<ref>{{cite news |title=Teacher guilty of sexually abusing pupil |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/teacher-guilty-of-sexually-abusing-pupil-1-87037 |work=[[East Anglian Daily Times]] |date=9 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702004511/https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/teacher-guilty-of-sexually-abusing-pupil-1-87037 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |url-status = live|language=en}}</ref> popular entertainers,<ref name="Harris guilty">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/rolf-harris-guilty-the-moment-on-the-witness-stand-he-came-closest-to-convicting-himself-20140701-zsrij.html|title=Rolf Harris guilty: The moment on the witness stand he came closest to convicting himself|date=1 July 2014|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=1 July 2014|archive-date=30 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630183900/http://www.smh.com.au/world/rolf-harris-guilty-the-moment-on-the-witness-stand-he-came-closest-to-convicting-himself-20140701-zsrij.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="glitter 16 years">{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31657929 | title= Gary Glitter jailed for 16 years | work= BBC News | date= 27 February 2015 | access-date= 6 March 2015 | archive-date= 8 March 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150308101816/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31657929 | url-status= live }}</ref> politicians,<ref name=GuardJul614>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/06/child-abuse-coverup-1980s-lord-tebbit |title= Tebbit hints at political cover-up over child abuse in 1980s |author= Boffey, Daniel |work=The Guardian |location= London |date=6 July 2014 |access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref> military personnel, and other officials have been widely publicised. Since the start of the 21st century, media coverage and political discourse has also increasingly covered child abuse rings or "grooming gangs" operating in towns and cities across the UK, most notably in what is now known as the [[grooming gangs scandal]].<ref name="scandals and silences">Adrian Bingham and Louise Settle. [https://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/scandals-and-silences-the-british-press-and-child-sexual-abuse Scandals and silences: the British press and child sexual abuse], in ''History & Policy''. (4 August 2015)</ref> Efforts to protect children from sexual abuse were recorded as early as the 11th century.<ref name="Walker 2021 p. 22" /> Investigation and prevention of child sex abuse were impaired in the 21st century due to the impact of the [[United Kingdom government austerity programme#Effects|government austerity programme]].<ref name="observer21/10/2018" />

In 2012, celebrity [[Jimmy Savile]] was [[:wikt:posthumous|posthumous]]ly identified as a prolific child sexual abuser over the previous six decades. Subsequent investigations, including those of [[Operation Yewtree]], led to the conviction of several prominent "household names" in the media, allegations against prominent politicians, and calls for a public inquiry to establish what had been known by those responsible for the institutions where abuse had taken place. In July 2014, an [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse]] was announced by [[Theresa May]], then British [[Home Secretary]], to examine how the country's institutions have handled their [[Duty of care in English law|duty of care]] to protect children from sexual abuse.<ref name=BBCJul814>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28203914|title=Ex-senior judge Butler-Sloss to head child sex abuse inquiry|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|date=8 July 2014|access-date=12 July 2014|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507123219/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28203914|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Categories of child sexual abuse==
The [[Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command]] identify four broad categories of child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom, which they describe as the four "key threats" to children.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}
*'''The proliferation of indecent images of children''' – particularly the production of still, moving and live-streaming of child abuse images. Live streaming of abuse of third world children for consumption by UK paedophiles is increasing. Perpetrators are being increasingly found and brought to justice. Tracking down and safeguarding third world child victims is more difficult.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}
*'''Online child sexual exploitation''' – with a focus on the systematic sexual exploitation of multiple child victims on the internet.
*'''Transnational child sexual abuse''' – including both transient and resident UK nationals and British citizens committing sexual offences abroad.
*'''Contact child sexual abuse''' – including the threat posed by organised crime-associated child sexual exploitation and the risks around missing children.

Within the category of contact sexual abuse, there are a number of recognised types. Firstly, contact child sexual abuse by lone offenders. Secondly, contact child sexual abuse by group offenders and offending associated with street gangs, of which there are two types.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/14/children-risk-images-abuse-online|title=Children put at risk by rise in images of abuse online, say investigators|first=Sandra|last=Laville|date=14 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622004940/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/14/children-risk-images-abuse-online|url-status=live}}</ref> Within the group category, authorities describe two broad types:
* '''Type 1:''' Group offending targeting victim vulnerability. This includes street grooming gangs.
* '''Type 2:''' Group offending as a result of a specific sexual interest in children. This group have a long-standing sexual interest in children with some having a synergy with what has been described as a paedophile "ring".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norfolklscb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CEOP_Threat-Assessment_CSE_JUN2013.pdf|title=Threat Assessment of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse|publisher=[[Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command]]|date=June 2013|page=19|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013711/https://www.norfolklscb.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CEOP_Threat-Assessment_CSE_JUN2013.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Statistics==
The [[National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse]] (2025) said that around 500,000 children a year are likely to experience child sexual abuse of any kind in the UK, with one in five (100,000) incidents reported. Of the reported offences, 60% (60,000) are contact offences and 40% online. Of the contact offences, 28.5% (17,100) are flagged as child sexual exploitation.<ref name="Casey audit">{{Cite web |last=Casey |first=Louise |date=16 June 2025 |title=National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-audit-on-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

In the UK, a 2010 study estimated prevalence at about 5% for boys and 18% for girls<ref>{{cite web |title=Child abuse and neglect in the UK today |url=http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/child_abuse_neglect_research_PDF_wdf84181.pdf |work=NSPCC |author1=Radford |author2=Lorraine |author3=Corral |author4=Susana |author5=Bradley |author6=Christine |author7=Fisher |author8=Helen |author9=Bassett |author10=Claire |author11=Howat |author12=Nick |author13=Collishaw |author14=Stephan |year=2011 |page=5 |access-date=2011-10-29 |archive-date=2014-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816090004/http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/child_abuse_neglect_research_PDF_wdf84181.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> (not dissimilar to a 1985 study that estimated about 8% for boys and 12% for girls).<ref name="Baker">{{Cite journal|last= Baker |first= AW |author2=Duncan, SP |year= 1985 |title= Child sexual abuse: a study of prevalence in Great Britain |journal= Child Abuse & Neglect |volume= 9| issue= 4 |pages= 457–67 |pmid = 4084825 |doi= 10.1016/0145-2134(85)90054-7}}</ref> Figures from 2009 to 2010 suggest girls are six times more likely to be assaulted than boys with 86% of attacks taking place against them.<ref name="64 crimes a day">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13542007 "NSPCC says child sex abuse has risen to 64 crimes a day"] ''BBC News''. 26 May 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2012.</ref><ref name="60 offences">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8477726.stm "60 sex offences against children a day – NSPCC"] ''BBC News''. 25 January 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2012.</ref> In 2014, the charity [[Barnardo's]] published a report that estimated that during 2008–2013, two thirds of victims were girls and one third were boys. Barnardo's were concerned that male victims may be overlooked.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28935733|title=Barnardo's: Sexual exploitation of boys 'overlooked'|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=23 March 2015|date=2014-08-27|last1=Malik|first1=Zubeida}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cockbain |first1=Ella |last2=Brayley |first2=Helen |last3=Ashby |first3=Matthew |title=Not just a girl thing A large-scale comparison of male and female users of child sexual exploitation services in the UK |url=https://www.barnardos.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-12/not-just-a-girl-thing.pdf |publisher=Barnados |access-date=17 January 2025 |date=August 2014}}</ref> In 2020, the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse said professionals faced difficulties "in identifying sexual abuse and acting on concerns about children from minority ethnic backgrounds".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.csacentre.org.uk/research-resources/research-evidence/scale-nature-of-abuse/trends-in-official-data/ |title=Trends in official data}}</ref>

===Recorded offences===
Reports of child sex abuse have increased in the UK. This may, in part, be due to greater willingness to report – between October 2013 and December 2017, reports to child protection experts had increased by 700%. The NSPCC reported a 31% increase between 2016 and 2017 alone.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/29/estimated-20000-british-men-interested-in-sexually-abusing-children-police-chief-says Estimated 20,000 British men interested in sexually abusing children] ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Between 2009 and 2010, more than 23,000 offences were recorded by the UK police.<ref name="60 offences"/><ref name="64 crimes a day"/> This number had almost doubled by 2016–17.<ref name="Bentley"/> The true number of offences remains doubtful, and is generally assumed to be larger, due to expected underreporting.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Does So Much Abuse of Children Go Unreported? |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-watt/child-abuse-goes-unreported-nspcc_b_1374640.html |date=26 March 2012 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=30 January 2014 |archive-date= 3 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203035542/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-watt/child-abuse-goes-unreported-nspcc_b_1374640.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Some 90% of the sexually abused children were abused by people who they knew, and about one out of every three abused children did not tell anyone else about it.<ref name="nspcc_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/statistics/prevalence_and_incidence_of_child_abuse_and_neglect_wda48740.html |title=Incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect |work=NSPCC |access-date=30 January 2014 |archive-date=2 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702214438/http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/statistics/prevalence_and_incidence_of_child_abuse_and_neglect_wda48740.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''England''': In 2016–17 there were 43,522 recorded sexual offences against children under 16 years old, and a further 11,324 offences against young people aged over 16 and under 18. Police recorded 6,009 rapes of children aged under 13 years, and 6,299 rapes of children under 16 years.<ref name="Bentley">{{Cite book|author=Bentley, H.|display-authors=et al|year=2018|title=How safe are our children? The most comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK 2018|location=London|publisher=[[NSPCC]]|pages=29–31}}</ref>
* '''Wales''': In 2016–17 there were 2,845 recorded sexual offences against children under 16 years old. Police recorded 446 rapes of children aged under 13 years, and 340 rapes of children under 16 years.<ref name=Bentley/>
* '''Scotland''': In 2016–17 there were 4,097 recorded sexual offences against children under 16 years old. Police recorded 196 rapes and attempted rapes of children aged 13–15 years, and 161 rapes and attempted rapes of children under 13 years.<ref name=Bentley/>
* '''Northern Ireland''': In 2016–17 there were 1,875 recorded sexual offences against children and young people under 18 years old. Police recorded 360 rapes and attempted rapes of children and young people aged under 18 years.<ref name=Bentley/>

===Offender demographics===
The vast majority of child sex offenders in England and Wales are male, with men representing 82% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse and 90% of "contact" child sexual abuse in 2023.<ref name="Dunford 2025" /> A 2025 report by the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse said that the ethnic background of offenders was recorded in 69% of cases, of which 90% were white, 5% were Asian, 2% were Black, 2% were from mixed ethnic backgrounds and 1% were from "other" ethnic backgrounds.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Kewley |first1=Stephanie |last2=Karsna |first2=Kairika |title=Child Sexual Abuse in 2023/24: Trends in Official Data |doi=10.47117/IZAK2457 |date=2025 |url=https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2025/03/Child-sexual-abuse-in-2023-24-Trends-in-official-data.pdf |location=Barkingside |publisher=Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse}}</ref> The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse used statistics from the Ministry of Justice which show that white offenders are disproportionately over-represented in the numbers of defendants when compared to the 2021 Census which shows whites make up 81.7% of the general population in England and Wales, 9.3% identify as Asian, 4% identify as black, 2.2% identify as mixed race and 1% identify as 'other'.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/bulletins/ethnicgroupenglandandwales/census2021 | title=Ethnic group, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics }}</ref>

According to the Ministry of Justice's prison population statistics, there were 8,345 convictions for child sexual abuse offences in 2020. Of this number, 43 did not have their ethnicity recorded. Of those with recorded ethnicity, white prisoners were the majority with a total of 7,353. 464 were Asian, 310 were black and 175 were mixed and "other".<ref>[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902705/FOI_200611019_sex_offenders__including_CSA__prison_population_by_ethnicity.doc 2006 Sex Offenders including CSA Prison population by ethnicity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521152208/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902705/FOI_200611019_sex_offenders__including_CSA__prison_population_by_ethnicity.doc |date=21 May 2023 }}</ref> Of those with recorded ethnicity, white prisoners were disproportionately over-represented per capita. 88.5% were white, 5.5% were Asian, 4% were black and 2% were mixed/other.

In 2023, 115,489 child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes were recorded. Most cases of abuse occurred within the family or were committed by other children. Group-based child sexual exploitation accounted for 4,228 offences (3.7% of all cases), of which three-quarters involved two perpetrators and two-thirds involved direct contact (rather than occurring online). More than half of all group-based crimes were committed by other children and young people (57%): 9% of offenders were aged 9 or younger, 48% were aged 10–17, and the remaining 43% were adults. 717 (17%) were conducted by organised networks of criminals (so-called "grooming gangs").<ref name="p178">{{cite web | title='Anybody can be a victim': what do UK grooming gangs look like today? | website=Financial Times | date=10 January 2025 | url=https://www.ft.com/content/c379bdb3-25fa-4554-b045-51ef3e53abae | access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref><ref name="Hymas 2025">{{Cite news |last=Hymas |first=Charles |date=2025-01-10 |title=Pakistanis up to four times more likely to be behind grooming |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/10/pakistanis-four-times-more-likely-grooming/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="Dunford 2025">{{Cite web |last=Dunford |first=Daniel |title=Child sex abuse and grooming gangs: What we know, and what we don't, from the data |url=https://news.sky.com/story/child-sex-abuse-and-grooming-gangs-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-from-the-data-13285420 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

==Sexual abuse prevention==
{{Update|section|reason=Needs update to cover time between 11th century and 2023, as well as 2023 to present|date=January 2024}}
In the 11th century, surviving ordinances of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] revealed that a process was in place to minimise opportunities for clergy guilty of past abuses to engage in further illicit sexual activities with minors.<ref name="Walker 2021 p. 22">{{cite book | last=Walker | first=S. | title=Children Forsaken: Child Abuse from Ancient to Modern Times | publisher=Critical Publishing | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-913453-83-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8So1EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 | access-date=2023-03-14 | page=22 | archive-date=14 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314215517/https://books.google.com/books?id=8So1EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 | url-status=live }}</ref> Several organisations in the United Kingdom work towards the goal of preventing sexual abuse, such as the [[NSPCC|National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)]] and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. Prevention initiatives have traditionally involved providing information to children and parents about sexual abuse and how to prevent it. Other forms of prevention involve disruption activities where the children can be removed from the family home or area in which they are living, or work can be done to make it more difficult for people to sexually abuse children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protecting children from sexual abuse |url=https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-abuse-and-neglect/child-sexual-abuse |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=NSPCC Learning |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=lff_dev |date=2024-02-02 |title=Situational prevention: the practical approach to preventing child sexual abuse |url=https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/situational-prevention-the-practical-approach-to-preventing-child-sexual-abuse/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Lucy Faithfull Foundation |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===Barriers to prevention===
[[United Kingdom government austerity programme#Effects|Austerity]] led to cuts in policing so that the police no longer have the resources to investigate possible offences satisfactorily, or to safeguard potential victims. [[Nazir Afzal]] (formerly the Crown Prosecution Service lead on child sexual abuse and violence against women and girls) said, "Austerity has come at the wrong time. When finally voices are being heard, finally authorities are beginning to do their job properly and finally the NGO sector are being listened to, there isn't any money to go around. They are doing this with one hand behind their back. As a consequence, clearly people will not get justice".<ref name="observer21/10/2018">[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/21/austerity-harms-hunt-sexual-abuse-gangs-nazir-afzal Austerity harms hunt for sexual abuse gangs, says ex-prosecutor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021113144/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/21/austerity-harms-hunt-sexual-abuse-gangs-nazir-afzal |date=21 October 2018 }} ''[[The Observer]]''</ref> Nazir Afzal has also expressed concern that there are few prosecutions of grooming gangs in the south of England, fearing people in the south are not looking hard enough. Afzal said,<blockquote>The perceptions is that northern towns and the Midlands have got a better handle on it, but London, the south-east, the south-west really are not focusing on it and claiming they don't have any problems. ... There have been hardly any cases south of Birmingham. What the hell is going on? Is it because there is no problem? I don't accept that at all. Is it because it's not a priority? I hope that's not true. I do think it's that thing about not turning over a stone.<ref name="observer21/10/2018"/></blockquote>

In 2019, a BBC investigation reported that some privately run sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) were failing to examine young people who had experienced sexual assault in a timely fashion, jeopardising their ability to record forensic evidence. Victims' Commissioner [[Helen Newlove, Baroness Newlove|Baroness Newlove]] said the failures were "shocking".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-01-08 |title=Sexual assault forensics centres failing some victims |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45335980 |access-date=2025-01-09 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2023 [[Stephen Cottrell]], [[archbishop of York]], said that there was a crisis of safeguarding within the [[Church of England]], due to church-related abuse. He said: "I imagine Jesus weeps over this situation ... And I know many of us are not far from those tears as well."<ref name=sherwood>{{cite news | last=Sherwood | first=Harriet | title=Safeguarding in 'crisis' in Church of England, says archbishop of York | newspaper=The Guardian | date=9 July 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/09/safeguarding-crisis-church-of-england-archbishop-of-york | access-date=9 July 2023 | archive-date=9 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709211504/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/09/safeguarding-crisis-church-of-england-archbishop-of-york | url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2024, the U.K. government published the ''National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment,'' which sought to look at the "identification, assessment, and response to child sexual abuse within the family environment". It examined local child safeguarding practice reviews (LCSPRs), as well as 136 serious child safeguarding incidents and 41 serious case reviews (SCRs) related to these incidents to set out guidelines for local and national governments, as well as safeguarding partners across the country. The review said that there were "significant and long-standing issues" in reporting child sexual abuse within families, with children affected "frequently not being identified by practitioners" and not  "receiving the response needed for their ongoing safety and recovery".<ref>{{Cite web |title=National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-review-into-child-sexual-abuse-within-the-family-environment |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==Law and policy==
The United Kingdom rewrote its criminal code in the [[Sexual Offences Act 2003]]. This Act includes definitions and penalties for child sexual abuse offences, and (so far as relating to offences) applies to [[England]] and [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]. The [[Scottish Law Commission]] published its review of [[rape]] and sexual offences in December 2007, which includes a similar consolidation and codification of child sexual abuse offences in Scotland.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

In 2021, the government published its Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy, which focussed on new technologies and legislation to prevent and police abuse.<ref name="Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-07 |title=Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-child-sexual-abuse-strategy |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Priti Patel publishes new strategy to protect children from sexual abuse |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/priti-patel-publishes-new-strategy-to-protect-children-from-sexual-abuse |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==Grooming gangs==
{{Main|Grooming gangs scandal}}
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{{Excerpt|Grooming gangs scandal|only=paragraphs}}

== Inquiries ==

=== Butler-Sloss Inquiry ===
{{See also|Cleveland child abuse scandal}}
In 1987, a wave of suspected child sexual abuse cases were reported in [[Cleveland (county)|Cleveland, England]], many of which were later discredited.<ref name=Webmag>{{cite news|last1=Charles|first1=Pragnell|title=The Cleveland Sexual Abuse Scandal|url=http://www.davidlane.org/children/choct2002/choct2002/pragnell%20cleveland%20abuse.html|accessdate=July 21, 2014|publisher=Children Webmag}}</ref> From February to July 1987, many children living in Cleveland were removed from their homes by social service agencies and diagnosed as sexually abused. The 121 diagnoses were made by two [[pediatrics|paediatricians]] at a Middlesbrough hospital, Marietta Higgs and Geoffrey Wyatt, using [[reflex anal dilation]] for diagnosis (later discredited).<ref name="Gazette">{{cite news|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/20-years-cleveland-child-sex-3729871 |title=20 years on from the Cleveland Child Sex Abuse Scandal |newspaper=GazetteLive |date=8 July 2008}}</ref>

When there were not enough foster homes in which to place the children, social services began to house the children in a ward at the local hospital. Later, the test used to establish child abuse was contested by the area police surgeon, and cooperation between the social workers, police and hospital doctors involved in diagnosis began to disintegrate. There was public concern regarding the practices being used by the local social service agency, such as the removal of children from their homes in the middle of the night. In May 1987, parents marched from the hospital where their children were being held to the local newspaper. The resulting media coverage caused the social service agency's practices to receive public scrutiny and criticism. Controversy increased when [[Anthony Hollis|Mr Justice Hollis]] ruled that 19 of 20 children who had been made wards of the court should be returned to their parents due to the weakness of the medical evidence.<ref name=Webmag/>

In response, the Butler-Sloss report was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Social Services in July 1987 and published in 1988. The report, led by Dame [[Elizabeth Butler-Sloss]], concluded that most of the diagnoses were incorrect.<ref name="Gazette"/> Ninety-four of the 121 children were returned to their homes.<ref name="Gazette"/><ref>Staff writer, [http://www.childrenwebmag.com/articles/key-child-care-texts/the-cleveland-reportby-judge-elizabeth-butler-sloss The Cleveland Report] digest by Robert Shaw, Children Webmag 2011, accessed July 17, 2014</ref> An editorial in ''[[The Lancet]]'' concluded: "By their bull-headed approach, Dr Higgs and Dr Wyatt&nbsp;... have set back the cause they sought to promote". In July 1988, six MPs tabled a House of Commons motion for charges of indecent assault and conspiracy to be brought against Higgs and Wyatt.<ref name="times1988">{{cite news|title=Cleveland doctors defended|work=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=15 July 1988}}</ref>

On 14 October 1991, the [[Children Act 1989]] was implemented in full as a result of the Cleveland child abuse scandal and other child related events that preceded it.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pragnall|first1=Charles|title=Torn from their mothers' arms What are social workers for? Charles Pragnell considers some disturbing cases|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/torn-from-their-mothers-arms-what-are-social-workers-for-charles-pragnell-considers-some-disturbing-cases-1389422.html|accessdate=July 17, 2014|work=The Independent|date=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Webmag/>

=== Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry ===
{{Main|Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry}}

The 2014–2016 '''Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry''', often referred to as the '''HIA Inquiry''',<ref name=nihia>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiainquiry.org/|title=Home page|website=Historical institutional Abuse Inquiry|date=30 June 2017}}</ref> is the largest inquiry into historical institutional [[Child abuse|sexual and physical abuse of children]] in Northern Ireland legal history. Its remit covered institutions in [[Northern Ireland]] that provided residential care for children from 1922 to 1995,<ref name=abusebackground>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25637486|title=NI abuse inquiry - the background|date=13 January 2014|website=BBC News}}</ref> but excluded most church-run schools.<ref name=faq>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiainquiry.org/frequently-asked-questions|title=Frequently asked questions|date=October 7, 2015|website=Historical institutional Abuse Inquiry}}</ref>

The inquiry concluded its hearings on 8 July 2016 and released its report on 20 January 2017.<ref name=reportannounce>{{cite web |url=https://www.hiainquiry.org/ |title=The Historical institutional Abuse Inquiry|website=Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry|date=20 January 2017  |author=Sir Anthony Hart, Chairman}}</ref><ref name="HIA report">{{cite report|url=https://www.hiainquiry.org/historical-institutional-abuse-inquiry-report-chapters |title=Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry - Report |website=Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry|date=20 January 2017|isbn=978-1-908820-91-4}}</ref> In October 2019 the House of Lords passed the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/31/enacted |title=Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 |website=Legislation.gov.uk |date=2019 |access-date= 7 April 2020}}</ref> "to establish the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board and confer an entitlement to compensation...", and it was passed by the House of Commons as one of its last acts before the [[2019 United Kingdom general election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2019-10-31|title=31 October 2019 |website=UK Parliament - House of Lords Hansard }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50296081|title=MPs pass long-awaited abuse compensation bill|first=Jayne|last=McCormack|date=5 November 2019|website=BBC News}}</ref>

On 11 March 2022 ministers from the five main political parties in Northern Ireland and six abusing institutions made statements of apology in the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]]. A typical apology was "Today we, as representatives of the state, say that we are sorry ... that the state's systems failed to protect you from abuse".<ref name=sorry>{{Cite news |title=Abuse survivors hear Stormont public apology |last1=McCormack |first1=Jayne |last2=Andrews |first2=Chris |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2022 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-60676276}}</ref> BBC News reported that Jon McCourt from Survivors North West said "If what happened today was the best that the church could offer by way of an apology they failed miserably. There was no emotion, there was no ownership. ... I don't believe that the church and institutions atoned today." He called on the intuitions to "do the right thing" and contribute to the redress fund for survivors, saying that institutions have done similar for people in Scotland.<ref name=sorrylive>{{Cite news |title=Abuse survivors apology delivered at Stormont (reported live)| last1 = Connolly | first1 = Gráinne| last2 = Glynn | first2 = Niall| last3 = McCauley | first3 = Ciaran|website=BBC News |date=11 March 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-60665887?post=asset%3A589dd8ae-9fc5-4347-8030-e1f1d857b74f#post }}</ref> A board was set to represent all six institutions with a view to paying compensation to abuse victims. {{As of|2025|January|bare=yes}}, four of the six institutions had taken no action towards making payments.<ref>McCormack, Jayne. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68818566 "Barnardo's and the Good Shepherd Sisters to make abuse payment."] ''BBC News.'' Published 16 April 2024. Accessed 10 January 2025.</ref>

===Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse===
{{Main|Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse}}

The ''Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse'' (IICSA)<ref name="law gazette">{{cite web | title= Abuse inquiry: breaking with tradition |url=  http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/analysis/comment-and-opinion/abuse-inquiry-breaking-with-tradition/5050049.article| author=Joshua Rozenberg|date= 20 July 2015 | website= Law Gazette | access-date=20 July 2015}}</ref> in [[England and Wales]] was an inquiry examining how the country's institutions handled their [[Duty of care in English law|duty of care]] to protect children from sexual abuse. It was announced by the British [[Home Secretary]], [[Theresa May]], on 7 July 2014.<ref name="BBCJul814" /> It was set up after investigations in 2012 and 2013 into the [[Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal]] revealed widespread abuse, including historic claims (spanning several decades) against prominent media and political figures, and inadequate [[safeguarding]] by institutions and organisations. Originally the inquiry was intended to be a Panel Inquiry supported by experts, similar to the [[Hillsborough Independent Panel]].<ref name="Exaro">{{cite news |url=http://www.exaronews.com/articles/5274/mps-call-on-theresa-may-to-set-up-inquiry-into-child-sex-abuse|title=MPs call on Theresa May to set up inquiry into child sex abuse|publisher=Exaro|date=3 June 2014|access-date=19 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraph290614">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/jimmy-savile/10933200/Jimmy-Savile-pressure-grows-for-full-inquiry-into-historic-child-abuse.html |title=Jimmy Savile: pressure grows for full inquiry into historic child abuse |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=29 June 2014 |access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian041114">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/04/child-abuse-inquiry-victims-theresa-may|title=In this child abuse inquiry, the victims must be heard. But it may be too late |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=19 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014}}</ref> After numerous objections related to the panel's scope and its independence from those being investigated, and the resignation of its first two intended chairs, the inquiry was reconstituted in February 2015 as a [[statutory inquiry]] under the [[Inquiries Act 2005]], giving it greatly increased powers to compel [[sworn testimony]] and to examine [[classified information]].<ref name="indy070714">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-announces-details-of-independent-inquiry-into-paedophile-network-claims-9590545.html|title=Theresa May announces details of independent inquiry into paedophile network claims |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |date=7 July 2014|access-date=12 July 2014}}</ref>

The first two chairs appointed to the original panel inquiry were [[Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Baroness Butler-Sloss|Baroness Butler-Sloss]] (appointed 8 July 2014, stepped down 14 July 2014)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28203914|title=Ex-senior judge Butler-Sloss to head child sex abuse inquiry|date=8 July 2014|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref name=bbc140714>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28295282|title=Butler-Sloss steps down from child abuse inquiry|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=14 July 2014|access-date=14 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28291275|title=Butler-Sloss urged to stand aside from abuse inquiry|date=14 July 2014|work=BBC News}}</ref> and [[Fiona Woolf]] (appointed 5 September 2014, stepped down 31 October 2014).<ref name="bbc050914">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29076504|title=Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf to lead child abuse inquiry|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=5 September 2014|access-date=5 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-29853002|title = Fiona Woolf resigns as head of child abuse inquiry|date = 31 October 2014|access-date = 31 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="BBC-21-Oct-2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29703282|title=Abuse inquiry head Fiona Woolf defends Lord Brittan links |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 21 October 2014  |website=BBC News | access-date= 21 October 2014 }}</ref> The reasons for their withdrawal in each case were objections related to their perceived closeness to individuals and establishments which would be investigated. On 4 February 2015, May announced that the inquiry would be chaired by [[Dame (title)|Dame]] [[Lowell Goddard]], a [[New Zealand High Court]] judge who had no ties to the UK bodies and persons likely to be investigated, and the existing panel was disbanded.<ref name="BBC News 4 February 2015">{{cite web | title= New Zealand judge Lowell Goddard to lead abuse inquiry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31130805| author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date= 4 February 2015 | website= BBC News | access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=criteria>[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-abuse-criteria-for-chair-and-panel Independent inquiry into child sexual abuse: criteria for chair and panel, ''Gov.uk'', 4 February 2015]</ref> Lowell Goddard resigned as chair in August 2016 and was replaced by Professor [[Alexis Jay]], who had previously led the [[Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham]] (or Jay Report).<ref name=ft2014-09-05>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/42f3ab7a-34ed-11e4-aa47-00144feabdc0|title=Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf to lead child abuse inquiry|work=Financial Times|date=5 September 2014|author=Mark Odell}}</ref>

The IICSA published 19 reports in all, with the last one coming on 20 October 2022, with many urgent recommendations.<ref name=FinalReport>{{cite web|url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/final-report|access-date=5 November 2022|date=20 October 2022|title=The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse}}</ref><ref name=BBCOctober2022>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63318342|title=Child sex abuse: Failing to report it should be made illegal - major inquiry|publisher=BBC News|access-date=5 November 2022|date=20 October 2022}}</ref> [[Home Secretary]] [[Suella Braverman]] said the [[Government of the United Kingdom]] "accepted the need to act on all but one of the Inquiry’s recommendations".<ref name="govt response">{{cite news | url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1158298/Government_Response_to_IICSA_FINAL.pdf
| title=Government Response to the Final Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse| work=HM Government | date=May 2023| access-date=2 July 2023 |  archive-date=11 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611001801/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1158298/Government_Response_to_IICSA_FINAL.pdf| url-status=live }}</ref> As of {{As of|2024|12|lc=y|bare=yes}}, none of these recommendations had been implemented; the Ministry of Justice had closed a further consultation but published no response to the report.<ref name="NF">{{Cite web |date=2025-01-05 |title=Nigel Farage defends Elon Musk over grooming gangs posts |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd9x3d4v7jdo |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Letter: Church must face up to Justin Welby's damaging legacy |first=Stephen |last=Bernard |author-link=Stephen Bernard |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 December 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/dec/09/church-must-face-up-to-justin-welbys-damaging-legacy}}</ref>

====Key recommendations====
The 20 key recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) include:<ref name="JR">{{Cite web |title=Jay Report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham - Committees - UK Parliament |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1954/jay-report-into-child-sexual-exploitation-in-rotherham/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=committees.parliament.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Siddique |first=Haroon |date=2022-10-20 |title=Child sexual abuse inquiry: key recommendations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/20/child-sexual-abuse-inquiry-final-report-20-actions-for-change |access-date=2025-01-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* Creating a statutory requirement for people working or volunteering in positions of trust to report allegations of child sexual abuse.
* Establishing a national compensation scheme for people who have experienced child sexual abuse connected to an institution (state or non-state).
* Establishing two child protection authorities (one in England and one in Wales)  to improve child protection practices and policies, and to advise government.
* Establishing a dedicated [[cabinet minister]] for child protection.
* Introducing a ban on pain-compliance techniques in prisons, detention centres and other custodial settings.
* Improving statutory duty compliance so the [[Disclosure and Barring Service]] (DBS) is informed about individuals potentially posing a risk to children.
* Ensuring better age-verification processes online.
* Issuing regular public awareness campaigns to inform the public on how to spot potential abuse and how to report it.
* Amending the Children Act 1989 to allow children to apply for a court order to prevent a local authority exercising its parental responsibilities over them.
* Establishing an independent body to register staff in care homes, set and enforce professional standards, and provide training.
* Registration of staff at young offender institutes and secure training centres.
* Allow anyone working with children to see if they have been barred by the DBS.
* Extend disclosure requirements to those working with children overseas.
* Require all regulated search service providers and user-to-user services to pre-screen online content for known child sexual abuse material.
* Establish joint inspection of the victims' code to ensure it provides the minimum level of service for survivors of child sexual abuse.
* Ending the three-year limitation on personal injury claims for survivors of child sexual abuse.
* Providing guaranteed, fully-funded therapeutic support by specialists to all survivors of child sexual abuse.
* Establishing a code of practice which provides access to records related to child sexual abuse and ensures they are retained for 75 years.
* Updating the criminal injuries compensation scheme to cover a broader range of child sexual abuse and to extend the time limit for survivors to apply.
* Improving data collection by creating a single set of core data for all child sexual abuse cases.

====November 2020 report on Catholic Church====
In November 2020, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published its 144-page report, ''Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales''.<ref name="Catholic church report">{{Cite book|url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/23357/view/catholic-church-investigation-report-10-november-2020.pdf|title=Safeguarding in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Investigation Report|publisher=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse|date=November 2020}}</ref> The report said the Catholic Church of England and Wales "swept under the carpet" allegations of sex abuse by many individuals, including priests, monks and volunteers, in England and Wales. The report said that [[Vincent Nichols]], a cardinal since 2014 and the leader of the Catholic church in England and Wales, made "no acknowledgement of any personal responsibility",<ref name=abuse>{{Cite news |title=Child sexual abuse in Catholic church was 'swept under the carpet', inquiry finds |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 November 2020 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/child-sexual-abuse-in-catholic-church-swept-under-the-carpet-inquiry-finds}}</ref> protected the reputation of the Church rather than protecting victims, and lacked compassion towards victims.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54889033 Catholic Church abuse: Cardinal Vincent Nichols criticised over leadership]. ''BBC News''.</ref>

On 2 September 2021, the inquiry published ''Child protection in religious organisations and settings - Investigation Report'', after examining evidence from 38 groups, including sects from Christianity, Orthodox Judaism, and Islam.<ref name=sep21report>{{cite web |url=https://www.iicsa.org.uk/document/child-protection-religious-organisations-and-settings-investigation-report-september-2021 |title=Child protection in religious organisations and settings - Investigation Report|website=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse|author= |date=2 September 2021}}</ref> The report said there were "shocking failings" and "blatant hypocrisy" in the way major UK religious groups handled child sex abuse allegations. It also said that some religious organisations were "morally failing" children, discouraging the reporting of abuse to protect reputations, blaming victims for their abuse, and responding to allegations using religious dogma.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Religious groups in UK failing children over sex abuse, report says |last=Symonds |first=Tom |website=BBC News |date=2 September 2021 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58420270}}</ref>

=== Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry ===
{{Main|Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry}}

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry was established in October 2015 to inquire into cases of [[child abuse]] in care in Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Child protection: Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry - gov.scot|url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/child-protection/scottish-child-abuse-inquiry/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Scottish Government}}</ref><ref name="beeb">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44561143 |title=Scottish Child Abuse inquiry to be extended|website=BBC News|date=23 August 2018  |access-date= 23 August 2018}}</ref> Retired judge [[Anne Smith, Lady Smith|Lady Anne Smith]] was appointed as chairwoman of the inquiry in July 2016. She is supported by a secretariat team, a legal team and legal council.<ref name="childabuseinquiry_who-we-are">{{Cite web|title=Who we are|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/about-us/the-inquiry/who-we-are/|access-date=2021-05-16|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|language=en}}</ref> Prior to the appointment of Smith, the inquiry had a chair, Susan O'Brien, and two panel members, [[Michael Lamb (psychologist)|Michael Lamb]] and Glen Houston. Lamb resigned because of the Scottish government continued interference.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor blasts Scottish Government 'interference' as he steps down from child abuse inquiry|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14585067.professor-blasts-scottish-government-interference-steps-child-abuse-inquiry|access-date=2021-05-16|website=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|date=28 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref> The inquiry investigated over 100 locations of over 50 residential care establishments for children where there were child abuse claims.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 December 2019|title=Preliminary Hearing|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/news/preliminary-hearing/|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Investigations|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/evidence/investigations/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|language=en}}</ref> Between 2018 and 2021 the inquiry issued several reports including four case reports on care homes in Scotland.<ref name="case study 3">{{Cite web|date=January 2020|title=Case Study no. 3: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by Quarriers, Aberlour Child Care Trust, and Barnardo's between 1921 and 1991|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/2347/qab-case-study-findings.pdf|access-date=17 May 2021|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228101658/https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/2347/qab-case-study-findings.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="case study 4">{{Cite web|date=February 2021|title=Case Study no. 4: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by The Christian Brothers between 1953 and 1983 at St Ninian's Residential Care Home, Falkland, Fife|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/2668/scai_case-study-no4_the-provision-of-residential-care-for-children-in-scotland-by-the-christian-brothers_february-2021.pdf|access-date=17 May 2021|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|archive-date=17 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217132334/https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/2668/scai_case-study-no4_the-provision-of-residential-care-for-children-in-scotland-by-the-christian-brothers_february-2021.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="case study 1">{{Cite web|date=October 2018|title=Case Study no. 1: The provision of residential care for children in Scotland by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul between 1917 and 1981, with a particular focus on Smyllum Park Orphanage, Lanark, and Bellevue Children's Home, Rutherglen|url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/1890/aps-doc-findings-final-hyperlinked-11_oct.pdf|website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|access-date=10 January 2025|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114201638/https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/media/1890/aps-doc-findings-final-hyperlinked-11_oct.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Abuse survivors have called on the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry remit to be widened out to include victims who were targeted outwith residential care, including sports and leisure clubs or faith based organisations attended on a day-to-day basis.<ref name="remit wide enough"/><ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Marion|date=2020-01-26|title=Child abuse inquiry: Angela Constance defends remit|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35535524|access-date=2021-09-06|website=BBC News|language=en-US}}</ref> Lady Smith rejected this request.<ref name="remit wide enough">{{Cite news|title=Child abuse inquiry remit is wide enough, says new chairman|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/14807558.child-abuse-inquiry-remit-is-wide-enough-says-new-chairman/|access-date=23 February 2022|website=Glasgow Times}}</ref> Those affected by childhood sexual abuse have called for new laws of mandatory reporting to be implemented in Scotland. This would be a legal requirement for those who work with children or in law enforcement to report child sexual abuse, and is already law in many other countries in the world. The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has given no indication if they will support this law reform.<ref name="sky aug 2023">{{cite news| last=Minelle| first=Bethany| title=Nicky Campbell compares 'abusive' teacher at Edinburgh Academy to Jimmy Savile | newspaper=[[Sky News]]| date=22 August 2023 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/nicky-campbell-compares-abusive-teacher-at-edinburgh-academy-to-jimmy-savile-12945237}}</ref>

The inquiry was to report and make recommendations by 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-07|title=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|url=https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/social-care-and-health/scottish-child-abuse-inquiry|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Aberdeen City Council|language=en}}</ref><ref name="SCA Inquiry TOR">{{cite web |url=https://www.childabuseinquiry.scot/about-us/terms-of-reference/ |title=Terms of Reference, amended 21 June 2018 |website=Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry|date=13 July 2018  |access-date= 23 August 2018}}</ref> This deadline was later changed to "as soon as reasonably practicable".<ref name=beeb/> A transcript contract extension indicates the inquiry hearings could run until February 2025, with a possible extension to February 2026. Then the report would need to be written.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title=Contract suggests Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry could last to 2026|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18703766.contract-suggests-scottish-child-abuse-inquiry-last-2026/|access-date=2022-02-23|website=The Herald|language=en}}</ref> Concerns have been raised about mounting costs and delays in the inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Marc Horne|title=Child abuse inquiry costs soar as concern raised over compensation panel fees|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/child-abuse-inquiry-costs-soar-amid-row-over-fees-clmkzbq29|access-date=2021-05-17|website=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Costs for child abuse inquiry reach £30,000 a day - gov.scot|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/costs-for-child-abuse-inquiry-reach-30-000-a-day-mncdvd7dt|access-date=2021-05-17|website=[[The Times]]|date=6 May 2021 }}</ref> In September 2021, Lady Smith released a report which was critical of the previous Scottish government for the 'woeful and avoidable' delay in setting up the inquiry.<ref>{{cite news| last=Cameron | first=Lucinda | title=Government delay setting up child abuse inquiry 'woeful and avoidable' – judge | newspaper=[[The Evening Standard]]| date=29 September 2021 | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-government-scottish-first-minister-justice-scottish-parliament-b957860.html}}</ref> {{As of|2025|January}}, after nearly eight years of the inquiry, it still has not published its recommendations.<ref name="sky aug 2023" />

=== Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs ===
On 14 June 2025, Prime Minister [[Keir Starmer]] announced that the government would launch a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs,<ref name="Mason Allen 2025">{{Cite news |first1=Chris |last1=Mason |first2=Isabella |last2=Allen |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7872pngj2qo |title=Sir Keir Starmer announces national inquiry into grooming gangs |date=14 June 2025 |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=14 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="AJ 14 June 2025">{{cite news |title=UK announces national inquiry into 'grooming gangs' after pressure |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/14/uk-announces-national-inquiry-into-grooming-gangs-after-pressure |access-date=15 June 2025 |work=[[Al Jazeera English]] |date=14 June 2025}}</ref> following the recommendations of the Casey audit, which found that the ethnicity of gangs had been "shied away from". Noting that ethnicity data collected for victims and perpetrators of group-based child sexual exploitation was "not sufficient to allow any conclusions to be drawn at the national level", the report said "there have been enough convictions across the country of groups of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds to have warranted closer examination". Casey said there had been institutional "obfuscation" instead of "examination".{{sfn|Casey|2025|p=5}}<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title='Collective failure' to address questions about grooming gangs' ethnicity, says Casey report |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c6292x36d4pt |access-date=16 June 2025 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On 9 December 2025, Home Secretary [[Shabana Mahmood]] made a statement to Parliament announcing the [[Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs]], its panel with Baroness [[Anne Longfield, Baroness Longfield|Anne Longfield]] as its chair, and draft terms of reference to be confirmed no later than March 2026.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=Grooming Gangs: Independent Inquiry |jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom |house=House of Commons |date=9 December 2025 |volume=777 |column=179 |speaker=[[Shabana Mahmood]] |position=[[Home Secretary]] |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-12-09/debates/292F9375-C8B2-4B56-848A-70D76CF4EFBC/details#contribution-92CF3F1C-D422-4766-8950-4F2CF542A947}}</ref>

==Notable incidents==
* [[Amberdale children's home]]
* [[Aylesbury child sex abuse ring]]
* [[Banbury child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-31765083|title='Social media party' sex gang guilty|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2015|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819101230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-31765083|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Beechwood children's home]] – A care home where 136 former residents reported being sexually abused, which police believe is "the small tip of a very large iceberg".
* [[Berkhamsted paedophile network]] – A gang led from [[Berkhamsted]] in [[Hertfordshire]] that was stopped in 2016.
* [[Birmingham bathing cult]]
* [[Bristol child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30078503|title=Sex abuse gangs jailed for grooming|work=BBC News|date=27 November 2014|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430000022/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30078503|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Derby child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jan/07/derby-sex-gang-leaders-jailed|title=Derby sex abuse gang leaders jailed|first=Helen|last=Carter|date=7 January 2011|website=The Guardian|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135920/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jan/07/derby-sex-gang-leaders-jailed|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Eliza Armstrong case]] – a late 19th-century child sexual abuse scandal that led to the passing of the [[Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885]], which raised the [[age of consent]] from 13 to 16.
* [[Halifax child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-36559092|title=Fifteen men jailed for child sex abuse|work=BBC News|date=17 June 2016|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212002102/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-36559092|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Huddersfield grooming gang]]
* [[Ian Watkins (Lostprophets singer)|Ian Watkins child sexual abuse scandal]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-11 |title=Rise and fall of Ian Watkins - The Lostprophets singer jailed for horrific sex crimes |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/ian-watkins-dead-prison-lostprophets-singer-paedophile-b2843781.html |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
* Islington Children's Homes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/jul/06/children.childprotection|title=The whistleblower's story|first1=Paul|last1=Harris|first2=Martin|last2=Bright|date=6 July 2003|website=The Guardian|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407101209/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/jul/06/children.childprotection|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jersey child abuse investigation]]
* [[Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal]]. See also [[Operation Yewtree]], the police investigation into abuse by Savile and others.
* [[Keighley child sex abuse ring]]
* [[Kesgrave Hall School]]
* [[Kidwelly sex cult]]
* [[Kincora Boys' Home]] – the scandal first came to public attention on 24 January 1980 after a news report in the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' titled it as "Sex Racket at Children's Home".
* [[Manchester child sex abuse ring]]
* Manchester Children's Homes<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6427475.stm|title=Abuse scandal dates back 50 years|date=7 March 2007|access-date=28 April 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209235713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6427475.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Mark Trotter Affair<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/children-at-risk-council-condemned-in-child-abuse-inquiry-1137368.html|title=Children at risk: Council condemned in child abuse inquiry|work=The Independent |date=8 January 1988|access-date=15 October 2023|via=independent.co.uk|archive-date=25 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325070716/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/children-at-risk-council-condemned-in-child-abuse-inquiry-1137368.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Medomsley Detention Centre]] – A youth prison in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980 where over 1,800 former inmates were subjected to serious sexual and physical abuse by prison guards.
* [[Murder of Alesha MacPhail]]
* [[Newcastle sex abuse ring|Newcastle child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40879427|title=Child sex grooming network convicted|work=BBC News|date=9 August 2017|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512163155/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-40879427|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[North Wales child abuse scandal]] – Scandal leading to a three-year, £13 million investigation into the physical and [[child sexual abuse|sexual abuse of children]] in [[Residential care#Child care|care homes]] in the [[Preserved counties of Wales|counties]] of [[Clwyd]] and [[Gwynedd]], in [[North Wales]], including the Bryn Estyn children's home at [[Wrexham]], between 1974 and 1990.
* North West Hebephile Hunters forms<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/leyland-man-46-arrested-sexually-grooming-12-year-old-released-bail-after-being-exposed-paedophile-hunters-facebook-live-650157|title=Leyland man, 46, arrested for sexually grooming 12-year-old is released on bail after being 'exposed' by paedophile hunters on Facebook Live|date=11 July 2019|first=Matthew|last=Calderbank|newspaper=[[Lancashire Evening Post]]|access-date=30 August 2021|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830204101/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/crime/leyland-man-46-arrested-sexually-grooming-12-year-old-released-bail-after-being-exposed-paedophile-hunters-facebook-live-650157|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Norwich sexual abuse ring]]
* Nottingham Care Homes<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-23300931 |title=More abuse claims at children's home |work=BBC News |date=13 July 2013 |access-date=28 April 2018 |archive-date=2 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302025644/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-23300931 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Operation Lakeland – A successful 2007-2010 police investigation into a ring of six men in Cornwall who had "abused at least 30 girls", including at least one as young as five.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-04 |title=Police smash Cornwall paedophile ring as six men jailed for abuse {{!}} Crime {{!}} The Guardian |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/26/cornwall-paedophile-ring-men-jailed |access-date=2025-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504152940/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/nov/26/cornwall-paedophile-ring-men-jailed |archive-date=4 May 2025 |last1=Morris |first1=Steven }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-04 |title=Paedophile ring in Cornwall 'abused at least 30 girls' - BBC News |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-11839816 |access-date=2025-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504153242/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-11839816 |archive-date=4 May 2025 }}</ref>
* [[Operation Voicer]] – A successful police investigation into sexual abuse of babies and infants across England.
* [[Oxford child sex abuse ring]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-41608602|title=Gang abused girls 'on a massive scale'|work=BBC News|date=24 March 2018|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430170944/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-41608602|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Peterborough sex abuse case]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-26276101|title=Gang jailed for sex attacks on girls|work=BBC News|date=20 February 2014|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=12 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512174714/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-26276101|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[2009 Plymouth child abuse case|Plymouth child abuse case]] – paedophile ring involving at least five adults from different parts of England
* [[Rochdale child sex abuse ring]]. See also [[Operation Doublet]], an ongoing investigation by [[Greater Manchester Police]].
* [[Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal]] – widespread child exploitation in [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]], England, between 1997 and 2013, estimated to have involved at least 1400 children who were subjected to 'appalling' sexual exploitation by gangs of men. An investigation into the abuse was commissioned, called the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham or Jay Report.<ref name="Jay Report">{{cite news|title=Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997–2013)|url=http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1407/independent_inquiry_cse_in_rotherham|publisher=Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council|date=26 August 2014|access-date=30 August 2014|archive-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119073353/http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1407/independent_inquiry_cse_in_rotherham|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BBC26Aug2014>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-28939089|title=Rotherham child abuse scandal: 1,400 children exploited, report finds|date=26 August 2014|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=26 August 2014|archive-date=24 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324050742/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-28939089|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="shone a light">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-26 |title=Jay Report: How inquiry shone a light on Rotherham abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4ynzppk80o |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case]]
* [[Telford child sexual exploitation scandal]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/09/grooming-gangs-muslim-men-failed-integrate-british-society/|title=Grooming gangs of Muslim men failed to integrate into British society|work=The Daily Telegraph|last=Bird|first=Steve|date=9 December 2017|access-date=10 May 2019|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212134310/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/09/grooming-gangs-muslim-men-failed-integrate-british-society/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="telford inquiry">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-61983584 |title=Telford child sex abuse went on for generations, inquiry finds |date=12 July 2022 |work=BBC |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713060002/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-61983584 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardian july 2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/12/over-1000-children-telford-sexually-exploited-inquiry-finds |title=Over 1,000 children in Telford were sexually exploited, inquiry finds |first=Jessica |last=Murray |date=12 July 2022 |work=The Guardian |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713090706/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/12/over-1000-children-telford-sexually-exploited-inquiry-finds |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal]] – started in November 2016 when former professional footballers waived their rights to anonymity and talked publicly about abuse by former football coaches in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The initial allegations centred on [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] and [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].
* [[Westminster paedophile dossier]] – A dossier on paedophiles allegedly associated with the British government

==See also==
* [[Child abuse]]
* [[Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry]]
* [[Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry]]
* [[Sexual offences in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal |last1=Cockbain |first1=Ella |date=April 2013 |title=Grooming and the 'Asian sex gang predator': the construction of a racial crime threat |journal=Race & Class |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=22–32 |doi=10.1177/0306396813475983 |doi-access=free}}
* {{Cite journal|url = https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0306396819895727|doi = 10.1177/0306396819895727|title = Failing victims, fuelling hate: Challenging the harms of the 'Muslim grooming gangs' narrative|year = 2020|last1 = Cockbain|first1 = Ella|last2 = Tufail|first2 = Waqas|journal = Race & Class|volume = 61|issue = 3|pages = 3–32|s2cid = 214197388|access-date = 25 July 2023|archive-date = 8 March 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210308203535/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0306396819895727|url-status = live}}
* {{Citation |last1=Gill |first1=Aisha K. |chapter=Moral Panic in the Media: Scapegoating South Asian Men in Cases of Sexual Exploitation and Grooming |date=30 November 2020 |title=Gendered Domestic Violence and Abuse in Popular Culture |pages=171–197 |editor-last=Ramon |editor-first=Shulamit |chapter-url=https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-83867-781-720201011/full/html |access-date=27 June 2024 |publisher=Emerald Publishing Limited |doi=10.1108/978-1-83867-781-720201011 |isbn=978-1-83867-782-4 |last2=Day |first2=Aviah Sarah |editor2-last=Lloyd |editor2-first=Michele |editor3-last=Penhale |editor3-first=Bridget |chapter-url-access=subscription |mode=cs1}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Gill |first1=Aisha K |last2=Harrison |first2=Karen |date=1 July 2015 |title=Child Grooming and Sexual Exploitation: Are South Asian Men the UK Media's New Folk Devils? |url=https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/756 |journal=International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=34–49 |doi=10.5204/ijcjsd.v4i2.214 |issn=2202-8005}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Hanson |first=Martin |date=2018 |title=Muslim grooming gangs |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.T2024062400003801479408026 |journal=The Open Society|volume=91 |issue=4 |pages=5–10 }}
* {{Citation |last=Meyer |first=Anneke |chapter=The Rotherham abuse scandal |date=30 June 2015 |title=Revisiting Moral Panics |pages=113–122 |editor-last=Cree |editor-first=Viviene E. |chapter-url=https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/book/9781447321873/ch010.xml |access-date=21 June 2025 |publisher=Policy Press |doi=10.51952/9781447321873.ch010 |isbn=978-1-4473-2187-3 |editor2-last=Clapton |editor2-first=Gary |editor3-last=Smith |editor3-first=Mark |mode=cs1|chapter-url-access=subscription }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Miah |first=Shamim |date=18 April 2015 |title=The Groomers and the Question of Race |url=https://www.identitypapers.org.uk/article/id/410/ |journal=Identity Papers: A Journal of British and Irish Studies |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=54–66 |doi=10.5920/idp.2015.1154 |issn=2058-6205 |doi-access=free}}
* {{Cite book |last=Quraishi |first=Muzammil |title=Young British Muslims |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |location=London |pages=36–48 |chapter=Child sexual exploitation and young British Muslim men: a modern moral panic?}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Shawar |first1=Yusra Ribhi |last2=Truong |first2=Phong Phu |last3=Shiffman |first3=Jeremy |date=2022-06-01 |title=The emergence of political priority for addressing child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom |journal=Child Abuse & Neglect |volume=128 |issue=105601 |pages=8–9 |doi=10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105601 |issn=0145-2134 |ref={{harvid|Shawar|2022}}|doi-access=free |pmid=35381546 }}
* {{Cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=8 January 2025 |title=Tory and Reform MPs accused of 'weaponising trauma' of grooming victims, as Farage calls for inquiry to focus on Pakistani men – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jan/08/conservatives-elon-musk-keir-starmer-kemi-badenoch-child-safety-pmqs-uk-politics-latest-updates?page=with:block-677e9abc8f08580f8d2eb7d1#block-677e9abc8f08580f8d2eb7d1 |access-date=9 January 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Tufail |first=Waqas |date=2015 |title=Rotherham, Rochdale, and the Racialised threat of the 'Muslim grooming gang' |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/INFORMIT.252439513232546 |journal=International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=30–43 |doi=10.5204/ijcjsd.v4i3.249}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Tufail |first1=Waqas |last2=Poynting |first2=Scott |chapter=Muslim and dangerous: 'Grooming' and the politics of racialisation |title=Fear of Muslims? International Perspectives on Islamophobia |year=2016 |pages=79–92}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Wroe |first1=Lauren Elizabeth |last2=Vaughn |first2=Leona |title=Race, class and the weaponisation of child safety |type=editorial |journal=Critical and Radical Social Work |date=April 2025 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=148–154 |doi=10.1332/20498608Y2025D000000074 |doi-access=free}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |author1=Nigel Parton |author2=Anne Stafford |author3=Sharon Vincent |author4=Connie Smith | title = Child Protection Systems in the United Kingdom: A Comparative Analysis | publisher = Jessica Kingsley Publishers | year = 2011 | isbn = 978-0857002549 }}
* Adrian Bingham; Louise Settle. [https://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/scandals-and-silences-the-british-press-and-child-sexual-abuse Scandals and silences: the British press and child sexual abuse], in ''History & Policy''. (4 August 2015)

==External links==
* [https://committees.parliament.uk/work/1954/jay-report-into-child-sexual-exploitation-in-rotherham/ Jay Report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham]
* [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents Sexual Offences Act 2003]

{{Child sexual abuse in the UK}}
{{Sexual abuse}}
{{Pedophilia}}

[[Category:Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom|Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Violence against children in England]]
[[Category:Violence in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Violence in Scotland]]
[[Category:Violence in Wales]]
[[Category:Sex crimes in Scotland]]
[[Category:Sex crimes in England]]
[[Category:Sex crimes in Wales]]
[[Category:Sex crimes in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:British people convicted of child sexual abuse]]