New plan to tackle child sexual exploitation in Wales

The first national action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation in Wales has been launched by Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The All-Wales National Action Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Exploitation provides a comprehensive framework through which the wide range of safeguarding partners will demonstrate co-ordinated and cross-agency action to prevent and protect children from abuse and sexual exploitation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It set out minimum standards the safeguarding children boards and partner agencies will work collectively and individually towards and build on to: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Prevent and protect children and young people from sexual exploitation
• Provide responsive, appropriate and consistent support to those identified as being subject to or at risk of child sexual exploitation
• Contribute to the identification and prosecution of perpetrators.

The launch of the plan follows appointments to the National Independent Safeguarding Board, which will play an important role in ensuring the right policies and initiatives are in place to safeguard children and adults across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Drakeford said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Child sexual exploitation is child abuse and a criminal act. Tackling this form of abuse is a priority for this government and requires co-ordinated action from everyone involved in safeguarding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This new national plan sets out what we expect agencies to do to prevent and protect children from sexual exploitation and to identify and prosecute perpetrators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The development of a national action plan does not mean work stops – this is just the beginning. We continue to work together to protect our children and young people.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The plan has been produced in partnership with Wales’ police and crime commissioners, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, police forces, the National Offender Management Service in Wales, the Youth Justice Board Cymru, Wales Community Rehabilitation Company, health boards, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, the third sector and local authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​