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Summary: Critics say the new plans will lead to some victims facing traumatic court processes.
[29 November 2011] - The government's action plan on tackling child sexual exploitation does not do enough to address the traumatic court processes victims are subjected to, child protection experts from the University of Bedfordshire have warned. Professors Sue Jago and Jenny Pearce, who earlier this month published a damning report into the failure of safeguarding boards to implement government guidance on protecting victims of sexual exploitation, have expressed disappointment that measures in the action plan are not enough. Jago said: "We are disappointed that it does not include a specific review of the trial process for young witnesses. Something is very wrong when young victims can find giving evidence as damaging as the original abuse." Pearce, who is on the panel for the children commissioner’s inquiry into sexual exploitation, said that while the government was to be commended for attempting to address the issue, the plan will be judged on how well local areas improve their child protection response to the problem. "Our research highlighted a number of issues, including the lack of data on child sexual exploitation, the poor provision of professional training and widespread lack of raising awareness with young people, their parents and carers," she said. "The government’s action plan has addressed these concerns and we welcome this. "It includes an intention to strengthen local safeguarding children boards and to help them to prioritise child sexual exploitation, but how this is to be achieved is yet to be developed." The government is expected to review progress made against its action plan in the spring. 
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