Hundreds of victims of grooming gangs, who were wrongly convicted, are set to have their convictions overturned. The Government plans to introduce legislation to dismiss and pardon convictions related to child prostitution following a significant injustice. Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, stated that the system had failed youngsters who experienced severe sexual exploitation in multiple ways.
These victims were convicted while the actual perpetrators, the adults who exploited them, avoided being prosecuted, as highlighted by the Home Office. This led to individuals, who were coerced and frightened, having enduring criminal records.
Gabrielle Shaw, the CEO of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), emphasized that no child should face criminalization for being a victim of abuse or exploitation. Shaw expressed hope that the pardon of these unjust convictions would offer validation to those affected.
Acknowledgment of abuse and being believed are crucial for survivors to feel a sense of justice, Shaw noted. She added that the decision to dismiss and pardon these convictions is a significant move towards establishing a justice system that prioritizes survivor-centered outcomes.
The legislative change will result in the expungement of criminal records for these offenses. While the exact number of affected individuals is unknown, it is estimated that hundreds will benefit from this initiative.
Ms. Phillips emphasized that these amendments signal a commitment to rectifying past failures for those let down by the system. She stated that victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation deserve compassion and support, not a criminal record, and this action aims to correct that.
The proposal was part of a key report by Baroness Louise Casey in June, with the government accepting all 12 recommendations outlined, including the establishment of a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal.
The disregard and pardon program will specifically target those convicted of on-street prostitution offenses when they were under 18, a concept that was eliminated from legislation in 2015. Once implemented, the scheme will automatically apply, without requiring victims and survivors to make formal requests.
The Home Office affirmed that with these reforms, victims of appalling child sexual exploitation will no longer bear convictions that should never have been on their records. In addition to this initiative, the Ministry of Justice announced stricter measures against strangulation or suffocation in pornography, with online platforms facing enforcement action if they fail to detect and remove such content.
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the viewing and sharing of harmful material online, emphasizing the need to hold tech companies accountable for preventing the spread of such content. The aim is to create a safer online environment for women and girls, free from violence and exploitation.