Child sexual exploitation is 'hidden issue', children's minister warns | Society | The Guardian

Child sexual exploitation is 'hidden issue', children's minister warns | Society | The Guardian: "Thousands of children in the UK are being sexually exploited, according to the children's minister, Tim Loughton.

He told a conference in Manchester organised by St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre that many local areas were failing to collate information on the extent of the problem in their communities.

"My strong sense is that this country is waking up to the fact young people are being sexually exploited not in the dozens or the hundreds, but very probably the thousands," Loughton added. "For too long, child sexual exploitation has been a hidden issue."

He said the government was "absolutely committed" to reducing the number of young people who fall victim to abuse, and was working closely with the sector to make progress with its action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation."

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