Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to improve prosecution rates for child exploitation.

Child exploitation can take many forms and include sexual exploitation and wider criminal activity.

Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a priority for the CPS. Specialist CPS lawyers, who have had bespoke training, continue to work closely with police investigators in order to build stronger cases, which can be both contact and online offending.

Child Sexual Exploitation is often associated with ‘County Lines’ criminal activity. The CPS has published a County Lines typology which provides an overview of the approach to be taken in criminal investigations and prosecutions linked to this type of offending. The typology guides police and prosecutors on evidential matters, as well as how to manage and support victims.