More support needed for CSE victims, says Rotherham MP Sarah Champion

MP SARAH Champion welcomed the conviction of six Rotherham men for child sexual exploitation offences — but called for more support for victims and survivors.
MP Sarah ChampionMP Sarah Champion
MP Sarah Champion

“I want to express my gratitude to the courageous survivors and witnesses in coming forwards and to the National Crime Agency and South Yorkshire police for believing them and acting to secure this result,” she said.

“Let us also remember the families affected by today’s news and send them our solidarity. 

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“An ongoing concern for me is that if victims and survivors are not properly supported, the likelihood of convictions is dramatically reduced. 

“Sadly, in Rotherham and indeed across the country, victim support services do not have the funding they need to survive, let alone meet demand. 

“This is why I have been campaigning to urge the Government to make it a statutory duty to provide all victims of sexual abuse access to appropriate, properly funded, services to rebuild their lives. 

“If they report the crime, they should also be given information on the criminal justice process and there should be a Victim's Law to legislate for these rights.”

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Ms Champion said she was especially worried about a drop in the use of pre-charge bail on suspects of child sexual abuse, which has fallen by half since reforms came in in 2017.

Nationally, alomost 3,000 suspects were released without bail conditions in 2017/18. 

“This can leave survivors living in fear that their abuser might contact them or attempt to attend their address, school or place of work,” said Ms Champion.

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