St Helens Borough Council calls for action on child sexual abuse
Councillors have called on government to implement the full recommendations of the Alexis Jay national independent inquiry into child sexual abuse published in 2022 and reaffirms its commitment to supporting all victims and will continue to work with partners to keep children safe.
Article date: March 6th 2025
St Helens Borough Council was one of six local authorities called as part of case studies by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) alongside Merseyside Police to take part in the Alexis Jay inquiry into exploitation by organised gangs.
Following IICSA's conclusion the council was vocal that it accepted and supports the findings and recommendations of the inquiry. As a result of the national review, and the council's own independent review in 2021 an action plan was created. All actions as a result were addressed and the action plan was closed in 2023 as completed.
Ofsted noted that children were safe and supported by the council when it rated it good in 2023 and a follow up visit spoke of further improvements in 2024.
Through a recent self-assessment St Helens Borough Council also recognises the partnership working continuing to protect children at risk across the borough through a dedicated Complex Safeguarding team who, alongside partners are intervening and diverting children from harm by identifying hotspots and themes of exploitation. There is also continual oversight through the multi-agency safeguarding committee.
Together with police partners there have been successful prosecutions against those exploiting children.
Following a vote on a cross party motion, which was unanimously supported by all parties, at a council meeting on Wednesday 5th March the council has committed to:
Continue to support all victims of child sexual exploitation in their calls for justice.
· Write to the Government to request that all recommendations of the National Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse are implemented, as called for by the victims of these crimes.
· Ask the Government to hold everyone involved in perpetrating such crimes to account.
St Helens Borough Council remains committed to supporting all victims and will continue to work with partners to keep children safe.
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