Child abusers exploit gaps

Its Phase 2 report into Children Outside the UK, published this week, highlights that civil orders on offenders rarely include travel restrictions. It found that the disclosure and barring system, including the International Child Protection Certificate which overseas institutions can request when recruiting British nationals, is ‘confusing, inconsistent and in need of reform’.

Abusers often pose as philanthropists or provide money, and disaster areas pose a particular risk for children, for example, Oxfam staff reported sexually exploited children following the Haiti earthquake.

Chair of the Inquiry, Professor Alexis Jay, said she hopes the report ‘will lead the authorities to tighten their grip on abusers’.