Monday, January 17, 2011
The stark facts on child sex trafficking
This morning's Guardian contains a very disturbing article on the increase in child sex trafficking in the UK. They say that trafficking of British children around UK cities for sexual exploitation is on the increase with some as young as 10 being groomed by predatory abusers.
A report by Barnados reveals that the average age of victims of such abuse has fallen from 15 to about 13 in five years. Despite this Anne Marie Carrie, the charity's new chief executive, says that victims continue to be missed as telltale signs are overlooked "from the frontline of children's services to the corridors of Whitehall."
The main findings from the report, called Puppet on a String, include:
• Trafficking becoming more common and sexual exploitation more organised.
• Grooming methods becoming more sophisticated as abusers use a range of technology – mobile phones, including texts and picture messages, Bluetooth technology, and the internet – to control and abuse children.
The charity dealt with 1,098 children who had been groomed for sex last year, a 4% increase on the previous year.
Their call for a Minister to be put in charge of fighting this abuse is timely and appropriate. Let us hope that Government listens.
A report by Barnados reveals that the average age of victims of such abuse has fallen from 15 to about 13 in five years. Despite this Anne Marie Carrie, the charity's new chief executive, says that victims continue to be missed as telltale signs are overlooked "from the frontline of children's services to the corridors of Whitehall."
The main findings from the report, called Puppet on a String, include:
• Trafficking becoming more common and sexual exploitation more organised.
• Grooming methods becoming more sophisticated as abusers use a range of technology – mobile phones, including texts and picture messages, Bluetooth technology, and the internet – to control and abuse children.
The charity dealt with 1,098 children who had been groomed for sex last year, a 4% increase on the previous year.
Their call for a Minister to be put in charge of fighting this abuse is timely and appropriate. Let us hope that Government listens.
Comments:
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Oh come on. Large wealthy organisation produces obviously made up report to back up its vested interest in persuading government to give it more money.
You have to stop taking this at all seriously when you see the bit about how the millions of evil paedos who stalk our streets are evilly using mobile phones (oooh - high tech).
It's absolutely ridiculous. We need to make sure that government stops diverting money to these fantasists.
You have to stop taking this at all seriously when you see the bit about how the millions of evil paedos who stalk our streets are evilly using mobile phones (oooh - high tech).
It's absolutely ridiculous. We need to make sure that government stops diverting money to these fantasists.
# posted by 
: 11:57 AM
: 11:57 AM
There's a terrific book everyone should share with their age-appropriate children: "Sold", a harrowing first person account of trafficking, rape, and being freed. It's by Patricia McCormick and it's the only book of its kind I've seen. Highly recommended for young people, and for those who want to learn more about these emotional and factual issues.
# posted by : 6:32 PM
: 6:32 PM
I agree with Anonymous. The CE of Barnardos was absolutely pathetic justifying the report on BBC last night. I do wish that we Lib Dems would stop falling into the Labour trap of assuming that everything that an NGO has paid some tuppeny hapenny 'academic' to do 'research' into is true. Qui bono? Follow the money! Why do the same people who regard research by private companiesd with - perhaps understandable - cynicism turn over and have their tummies rubbed when its an NGO??
"abusers use a range of technology – mobile phones, including texts and picture messages, Bluetooth technology, and the internet – to control and abuse children."
then they are easy to track and monitor ... even more insiduous are do-gooders who are not at all, who go to foreign countries in goody-good-shoe clothing (i.e., working for an NGO or even the UN) when their motives are far from pure. Cases where UN workers exploited children in Africa. Give food based on abusive quid pro quo.
then they are easy to track and monitor ... even more insiduous are do-gooders who are not at all, who go to foreign countries in goody-good-shoe clothing (i.e., working for an NGO or even the UN) when their motives are far from pure. Cases where UN workers exploited children in Africa. Give food based on abusive quid pro quo.
# posted by : 10:14 PM
: 10:14 PM
As someone with a bit of Child Protection experience, I think I have the right to comment. Sexual abuse of children is rife in the UK, and estimated one in three children are abused in the UK.
With the press highlighting incidents like "Irelands most prolific sex offender" living in the Llynfi Valley and the incident in Port Talbot which was highlighted in 2009 then there's real cause for concern!
With the press highlighting incidents like "Irelands most prolific sex offender" living in the Llynfi Valley and the incident in Port Talbot which was highlighted in 2009 then there's real cause for concern!
# posted by : 11:51 PM
: 11:51 PM
Yeah, yeah latest Anonymous and one in ten is gay and one in twenty is disabled, so every eigth person or whatever is gay, disabled and was childabused. Gizzagrant!
Oh my God Anonymous, you abused me. I feel so violated!
OK, here's an excerpt from the NSPCC site:
"Facts and figures about child abuse
A significant minority of children suffer serious abuse or neglect, according to NSPCC research:
•1 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by a parent or carer and another 3 per cent by another relative during childhood. 11 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by people known but unrelated to them. 5 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by an adult stranger or someone they had just met."
Even if you accept that figure (which I suspect is also exaggerated - I'd be very interested to know their definition of "abuse") that's one in five, not one in three. So, did you just make 'one in three' up?
OK, here's an excerpt from the NSPCC site:
"Facts and figures about child abuse
A significant minority of children suffer serious abuse or neglect, according to NSPCC research:
•1 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by a parent or carer and another 3 per cent by another relative during childhood. 11 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by people known but unrelated to them. 5 per cent of children experienced sexual abuse by an adult stranger or someone they had just met."
Even if you accept that figure (which I suspect is also exaggerated - I'd be very interested to know their definition of "abuse") that's one in five, not one in three. So, did you just make 'one in three' up?
The serious point behind all this being that pretending that a thirdof children are being abused devalues and demeans the term 'abuse', causes people (rightly) to assume that hyperbole is in play and - the reverse of the intended effect - to switch off on the issue altogether and thus imeril the highlighting and addrsssing of the real, serios abuses that of course do take place. Pretending that child abuse happens in every third family fails and betrays those - far fewer - in which unspeakable evils are perpetrated.
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# posted by : 9:40 AM
: 9:40 AM<< Home
