Sex abuse fears for children in care

A REPORT ordered after the horrific abuse of girls by a child-exploitation ring in Rochdale found children in care homes are being subjected to sexual abuse of a “violent and sadistic nature.”

England’s Deputy Children’s Commissioner Sue Berelowitz made the stark comments only weeks after nine Asian men who groomed white girls as young as 13 were jailed.

Only one of the girls was in care at the time of the abuse but all were said to have been known to social services at some point in their childhood.

Among those jailed was takeaway worker Kabeer Hassan (25), of Lacrosse Avenue, Oldham, who was jailed for nine years for rape and conspiracy.

Ms Berelowitz’s report said children in care homes were particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and victims were as young as 11, mainly girls, from all ethnic groups, and there was evidence of homes being targeted by abusers.

She added: “I have never come across the scale of violence and sadism that I’m encountering now. I think it’s quite right that the Government is paying special attention to this group of children as the state is their parent. We have a special duty of care.”

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said Government wanted to tackle the “out of sight, out of mind culture” that allows abuse to go on.

Unveiling a package of measures and an investigation to protect the young people living in the country’s 455 children’s homes, Mr Loughton said there would be more robust checks before children are placed in homes outside their own borough, better data-keeping of children who go missing in care and all aspects of quality and effectiveness of homes.

Experts have been asked to report — by September — on tougher regulations.


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