TOEX Statement on the Group Based CSE Publication

Today, Monday 16 June, the Home Office has published the ‘National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse’, led by Baroness Louise Casey. In response, the TOEX Programme reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting police forces in identifying, disrupting, and bringing to justice those involved in the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

The audit was commissioned to assess the current understanding of the scale, nature, and causes of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Through a thorough review of existing data and evidence, the report presents a comprehensive national and local picture and sets out several important recommendations to improve how data on group based CSEA is gathered, shared, and acted upon across policing and partner agencies.

The report makes 12 significant recommendations, each carrying serious implications for how policing and child protection agencies work together to safeguard vulnerable children and young people.

Further to the publication, recent announcements have included the Government’s intention to commission a full national statutory inquiry into group based CSEA offences across England and Wales, as well as the National Crime Agency (NCA) launching a nationwide operation to target offenders involved in the sexual exploitation of children as part of this crime type.

The report makes a few references to the TOEX Programme’s work recognising its contribution in shaping the national approach to tackling CSAE.

One quote from the report states:

Child Sexual Exploitation exemplifies the case for policing to be able to search its own systems, to track intelligence to make links between the hundreds of different pieces of information that might help build an intelligence picture. 

There is an urgent need to enable police to be able to do this to improve investigations about children at risk including across boundaries. In some areas, AI tools are being used to search across multiple systems and capabilities like TOEX can help areas in this respect. This does not require a whole new IT system for policing – it can be done quickly and incrementally.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kate Thacker, Director of TOEX, said:

“TOEX remains resolute in its mission to support policing’s response to the most serious and organised threats to our communities.

“The programme has worked closely with Baroness Casey and her team in the preparation of this report, and we are pleased that our contribution has been recognised in helping shape this vital national response.

“We will now carefully review the report’s recommendations and continue working in close partnership with the NCA, NPCC, and the Home Office to ensure we are aligned in delivering this essential work to protect children and pursue those who exploit them.”