Report Finds 'Thousands' Of Children Sexually Exploited By Gangs

Gangs and groups in England sexually abuse thousands of children each year, according to a report.

The Office of Children's Commissioner study says there were 2,409 victims in the 14 months to October 2011 - but the true number is likely to be far higher.

The report also identifies 16,500 children who were at "high risk of sexual exploitation" in 2010-11.

However, the government has privately questioned the report's methodology, describing parts of it as "hysterical".

The report's authors insisted their tone was "measured", and some of the most harrowing details of child abuse had been left out.

Deputy children's commissioner Sue Berelowitz said it was the most comprehensive study conducted of sexual abuse of children in England, and should be taken "very seriously."

The report, titled "I thought I was the only one - the only one in the world", sets out the findings from the first year of a two-year inquiry.

It is the first report to attempt to set out the scale of the sexual exploitation of children and young people.

It draws on figures for sexual abuse, young offending and child health from local authorities, police, health services, voluntary agencies and children and young people.

The authors list 13 risk factors they say may indicate that young people are subject to sexual exploitation and grooming. These include going missing, repeated sexually transmitted infections, misuse of drugs or alcohol, self-harm and other physical injuries.

Any child or young person displaying three or more of these signs is at "serious risk of sexual exploitation", says the report.

In an official statement, the Department for Education said it was committed to tackling child sexual exploitation and would study the findings - but an un-named government source privately raised concerns about the report's use of data, its headline figures and some of its language.

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