Hundreds of individuals who were victims of grooming gangs and wrongly convicted will see their convictions overturned following the government’s decision to introduce new legislation. The move comes in response to a significant failure of justice in cases of child prostitution convictions, with Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips acknowledging that the system had failed young victims of sexual exploitation.
These victims were unfairly convicted while the real perpetrators, the adult abusers, escaped punishment, according to the Home Office. This resulted in victims facing the burden of permanent criminal records despite being coerced and fearful during the crimes.
Gabrielle Shaw, the chief executive of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), emphasized the importance of not criminalizing children who are victims of abuse. Shaw expressed hope that the pardoning of these unjust convictions would bring a sense of validation to those affected, highlighting the critical need for survivors to feel believed and recognized.
The legislative change will lead to the expunging of criminal records related to these convictions, impacting potentially hundreds of individuals. The move aims to rectify past injustices and send a clear message that victims of child sexual exploitation deserve compassion and support, not criminal stigmatization.
The decision to disregard and pardon these convictions marks a significant step towards a justice system that prioritizes survivor-centered outcomes. The government’s action aligns with the recommendations of a key report by Baroness Louise Casey, which also calls for a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal.
The pardon scheme will specifically apply to individuals convicted of on-street prostitution offenses when they were under 18, with the concept of child prostitution being eliminated from legislation in 2015. Once implemented, the scheme will automatically apply without the need for victims or survivors to make formal requests.
In addition to these changes, the Ministry of Justice has announced stricter measures against strangulation or suffocation depicted in pornography. Websites will be required to actively detect and remove such content or face regulatory actions by Ofcom.
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized the harmful impact of viewing and sharing such material online, highlighting the need to combat a culture of violence and abuse. By holding tech companies accountable for preventing the spread of harmful content, the government aims to create a safer online environment for women and girls, free from the threat of violence and exploitation.