Shadow Counsel General and North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to take action to ensure that criminally exploited young people are effectively safeguarded and supported.
In today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood referred to three recommendations that Action for Children have put forward for immediate change at Welsh Government level to protect these young people and asked the Counsel General, Julie James MS, what discussions she is having with the charity and Cabinet colleagues regarding these.
He said:
“Action for Children published the findings of the Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children in March of this year, an extensive UK-wide review of exploitation, led by Alexis Jay CBE. Last month, their first follow-up report to the Review, 'I don't want to go down that road', examines the extent of the harms caused to exploited children across the UK by using safeguarding incident data from their Criminal Exploitation services.
“They've made three recommendations for immediate change at Welsh Government level, to ensure criminally exploited young people are effectively safeguarded and supported: investment in targeted exploitation prevention and support services for exploited young people; exploitation recognised as a distinct form of child abuse; and a welfare-first approach in the management of offences committed by exploited children. What discussions are you therefore having with Action for Children and Cabinet colleagues regarding these?”?
In her response, the Counsel General said “The Welsh Government will consider the report very carefully and see what we can do with our current powers.”