IY welcome the report published today by Criminal Justice Inspection on Child Criminal Exploitation in Northern Ireland. The Inspection Report highlights the urgent need for the criminal justice system to address the inadequate and inconsistent response to this form of child abuse.
It is deeply concerning that the scale of this form of exploitation is not known and that children who are victims are more often treated as suspects rather than children who need protected and safeguarded. The harrowing case studies within the report of children who have experienced exploitation point to repeated opportunities being missed to target adult offenders. The lack of awareness about the links between children who are missing and the risks of them being exploited means that vulnerable children are being repeatedly let down.
Instead of being protected these children are given criminal records, which have a devastating impact on their future. It is alarming that the child’s voice was largely absent from the police and prosecution records that were sampled and that the children’s experiences, needs and circumstances were not considered during investigations.
We agree with the Chief Inspector, that ‘we need to see children as children, protect them from harm and vigorously pursue those who are exploiting them and robbing them of their childhood’.
IY fully supports the report recommendations and urges Department of Justice, PSNI and associated criminal justice organisations to act with urgency.
Read the full support here
