Review finds 'no reliable national picture' of group-based child exploitation

A review into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation has found there is no reliable national picture of the scale of the harm due to a lack of accurate data.

Led by the Care Inspectorate and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland (HMIE), the study looked at the issues of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation in Scotland.

It highlighted challenges with the way key organisations deal with the scale, prevalence, characteristics, and threat of group-based harm.

It found there is no nationally agreed definition of group-based harms, meaning existing reporting arrangements are largely focused on individual incidents.

The authors said the absence of a national definition, consistent data collection and specific reporting requirements means neither local partnerships nor national bodies can accurately determine the scale, prevalence, characteristics or threat posed by group-based child sexual abuse, exploitation and criminal exploitation.

The report stated: “As a result, there is no reliable picture across Scotland of these types of harms.”

Inspectors also found gaps in intelligence-sharing and data collection. Fewer than half of partnerships gathered information on characteristics such as ethnicity, disability and care experience.

Partnerships have begun identifying areas for improvement at a local level to strengthen understanding of exploitation risks and support decision-making. Recommendations include developing a national definition of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation, introducing standardised data collection, and establishing robust data-sharing arrangements.

Jackie Irvine, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “Child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation are significant harms that have a devastating impact on survivors, their families and carers, and on wider Scottish society.

“This national review assessed multi-agency Chief Officers’ Groups’ (COGs) understanding and oversight of group-based child sexual abuse, exploitation, and group-based child criminal exploitation.

“Our report makes a series of recommendations to strengthen national understanding of the harmful nature of group-based sexual abuse and exploitation of children and young people.

“Addressing these complex and often hidden harms requires strong and sustained collaboration across all sectors, including social work services, justice, health and education. These recommendations can support the collective efforts being made across Scotland to prevent harm, improve protection and ensure learning leads to meaningful change.”

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, Craig Naylor, said: “Whilst there was a clear commitment across partnerships to strengthen intelligence gathering and prevention activity around group-based harms, we found structural gaps that impeded strategic governance and oversight of group-based harm – including the limited sharing by all agencies with Police Scotland of intelligence concerning child sexual abuse and exploitation and child criminal exploitation using the Partners Intelligence Portal.

“Less than half of partnerships gathered data relating to characteristics, such as ethnicity, disability, and care experience.

“This report should act as a catalyst for change.”

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Ministers commissioned this work to establish facts and be a catalyst for change.

“The Scottish Government accepts each recommendation and will work urgently to implement the changes needed.

“The important findings of this Report will feed into the statutory public inquiry into Group Based Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, which we have established to be chaired by expert Professor Alexis Jay.

“This Review, the Jay Inquiry and our Truth Project together will mean no stone is left unturned in our work to tackle this horrific form of abuse.”