Plans for a new Child Protection Authority has been unveiled as part of a government strategy to "protect children from predators and abuse". The new Child Protection Authority is tasked with identifying emerging threats and driving accountability across the system.
Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s chief executive said: “Hundreds of thousands of children are sexually abused in the UK every year*, causing trauma that can profoundly impact the rest of their lives. These offences happen in every community, in every part of the UK, at home, outside the home, and online.
“We welcome the announcement of a new Child Protection Authority (CPA) which addresses a key recommendation made by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) more than three years ago. Children and families must be included in the consultation process to ensure they play a meaningful part in its creation.
“Barnardo’s supports the new authority’s goals to provide national leadership, use data to identify risks, share good practice, and hold the system accountable, and it’s vital that the authority focuses on prevention and early intervention so we can stop abuse from happening wherever possible. To keep children safe and transform their life chances, this new authority must form part of a wider package of measures, including training for professionals and investment in community-based services for victims and survivors.”
(The CSA Centre estimates 500,000 children are sexually abused in the UK every year)