Children 'are abusing children'

Over the last two years, the findings of our Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups have made difficult reading: children, including but by no means always, those in care, are vulnerable prey for sexual predators operating in groups; children associated with but not necessarily in gangs, are subjected to appalling levels of sexual violence; pornography, to which most children are exposed, affects their behaviour, attitudes and beliefs about sex; and too many children and young people are still being failed by the agencies charged with their protection.

The reports out today are both shocking and saddening in their exposé of the systematic failure to tackle the growing problem of gang related sexual violence. All too often those tasked with protecting our children do not act early enough, watching the risks grow from the sidelines and waiting until children have been abused before they intervene.

This is not good enough. Every child that we fail and let become a victim of sexual violence is someone who will have to deal with the consequences of that failure for the rest of his or her life.

Despite several sexual exploitation scandals, these reports reveal children are still at risk from grooming gangs, which is deeply concerning. There appears to be a worrying lack of action in some areas which must be addressed immediately.

We have to help young people reframe their experiences and expectations. It's simply not good enough to say this is a lifestyle choice, or accept it as something that some young people 'get up to'. Being exploited for sex is not a choice. It's about a young person being forced, persuaded or tricked into letting someone else use their body for sexual gratification. No child should experience that.

The fact that some adults (usually men) rape and abuse children is generally accepted.

There is, however, a long way to go before the appalling reality of sexual violence and exploitation committed by children and young people is believed.

We have found shocking and profoundly distressing evidence of sexual assault, including rape, being carried out by young people against other children and young people.

While we have published chilling evidence of this violence in gang-associated contexts, we know too that it is more widespread than that. This is a deep malaise within society from which we must not shirk.