This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New measures to address child prostitution
30/12/2002
A report proposing a range of measures to support young runaways and children at risk of sexual exploitation through prostitution was published today.
The interim report of the Working Group on Young Runaways and Children Abused through Prostitution - established by Ministers to look at prevention measures and the promotion of good practice - proposes a range of measures including:
- a greater focus on legal action against the abusers
- the need for better follow up support and advice for the most vulnerable young people
- the development of local protocols to deal properly with the needs of young runaways and children sexually exploited through prostitution
- interviews with young people who have run away to establish their reasons for doing so and to prevent them simply returning to the problems that caused them to run away in the first place
Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson said:
"Every child has a right to grow up safe from harm and abuse. But for far too many of our children, that basic right is taken by those who seek to exploit them. Let us be clear, children sexually exploited through prostitution are victims. They do not choose that path.
"But it is a path that many young people, including those who run away from home, can find themselves on. The romantic connotations sometimes associated with young runaways must not cloud the reality that young people seldom run away to streets paved with gold, but rather to escape circumstances they can no longer cope with. Running away may feel like the only option but we know that it puts young people at risk.
"That is why we need services that support young people and their families before they reach crisis point. And it is absolutely right that, when preventative measures fail, we focus on securing the safety of children and punishing those who exploit and abuse them.
"I therefore very much welcome the Working Group's interim report and the areas it has flagged uphighlighted for further discussion and ongoing action. I am determined to address the problem of running away and to end the scandal of child prostitution as part of the Executive's commitment to improve the quality of life for all of Scotland's children."
Today's report will now go out for further consultation - comments and views are sought by 24 March. Copies of the interim report are available from Alison Knox, Children and Families Division, Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ (0131-244-0789).
The Working Group on Young Runaways and Children Abused through Prostitution was established by Ministers and consists of a number of officials from across the Executive and representatives from: Barnardo's Scotland; Aberlour Child Care Trust; ChildLine Scotland; the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland; Children's Panel Chairs' Group; Community Education Managers Scotland; Crown Office; Scottish Children's Reporter Administration; Child Protection Committees; The Big Step Social Inclusion Partnership; and the Association of Directors of Social Work.
Investment in the Changing Children's Services Fund, which funds innovative projects which join up services for vulnerable and disadvantaged, will double from £33 million to £65.5 million between 2002-03 and 2005-06. This was announced by Cathy Jamieson at the Barnado's Conference on Friday 22 November 2002
The Executive has announced a programme of action in response to the findings of the Child Protection Review published on 25 November, including:
- a three-year programme of sustained activity will reform child protection services by establishing clear practice standards, developing the role and responsibilities of Child Protection Committees, and building capacity to deliver;
- a team of experts from relevant agencies, with top-level backing from the Executive, will work directly with local agencies to implement the reform programme and tackle poor performance;
- a tough new system of inspection will monitor progress over the next three years to ensure that reform is delivered;
- a Children's Charter, to be drawn up in conjunction with professionals and children, will set out the support that children have the right to expect;
- extra support will be given to helplines that provide counselling and support for children - Childline and Parentline - including £500,000 to allow Childline Scotland to open up a new call centre and increase by up to 60% the number of children they are able to help.