The latest report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) reveals that Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, is rampant.

As a Political Party, UKIP is very concerned that the police, local authorities, and other child protection services do not seem to have an accurate understanding of networks of sexual exploitation of children in their own areas. Profiling has not been a priority.

Children as young as 10 being labelled as only, ‘at risk’, despite clear evidence they were contracting sexually – transmitted diseases, is abhorrent! Babies and infants have also been targeted. Victims of sexual abuse have not been treated with compassion, sympathy, or tenderness; this is not acceptable in the 21st Century! Survivors of sexual abuse have been ‘hung out to dry’. UKIP will not tolerate this.

Some local authorities downplay the scale of abuse over concerns about negative publicity, shocking practices and acts have been ‘swept under the carpet’.

The state has failed miserably allowing abusers into children’s homes and the foster system.

UK religious groups and sporting clubs are still discouraging the reporting of abuse to protect reputations - blaming victims for their abuse.

Recording data such as ethnicity of abusers and victims has not been a priority making it impossible to identify local patterns and trends of Child Sexual Abuse. A clear pattern has emerged in which groups of adult men befriend children plying them with drinks and drugs before sexually abusing them over months.

These crimes involve the sexual abuse of children in the most degrading and destructive ways by multiple perpetrators. The abuse is prolonged, and survivors are let down.

We all know the script and the information contained in the next report from the IISCA will contain more of the same.

The state has failed miserably to protect children from:

• Child on Child abuse which can include harmful sexual behaviour as well as bullying.
• Child abduction in the context of exploitation and grooming.
• Online abuse sexual exploitation. In many cases the offending remains online such as deceiving children into producing indecent images of themselves, participating in sexual chat, or engaging in sexual activity over a webcam. However online activity can also lead to offline offending.
• The state has failed to keep teenagers safe from harm from criminal gangs and trafficking.
• UKIP will reverse the disgraceful cuts to childcare services. The police, local authorities, and all child protection agencies WILL be held to account for their wicked failings and their clear lack of compassion. The I’m alright Jack brigade will not prosper under UKIP.
• The need to achieve significant improvements in outcomes for the children and families who are the foundation of our communities, and our shared future will be high on UKIP’s agenda.

Patricia Mountain

UKIP Spokeswoman Abuse and Exploitation 3rd Feb 2022