Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will give the police more powers to tackle child-grooming gangs.

Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and this Government will not allow there to be any safe space for predators to operate.

We are giving law enforcement the powers and tools it needs to bring those who exploit children to justice. Last year, we announced that we will be investing a further £30m in law enforcement capabilities to ensure offenders are no longer able to prey on society’s most vulnerable.

This year the Government will publish a comprehensive national strategy to tackle all forms of child sexual abuse, including grooming. Our new strategy will set out our whole system response to tackling child sexual abuse and how we will work across government, law enforcement, safeguarding partners and industry to root out offending, protect victims and help victims and survivors rebuild their lives.

New sentencing laws will ensure the most serious violent and sexual offenders spend time in prison that matches the severity of their crimes, protecting victims and giving the public confidence. We have already updated charging guidance to help ensure child sex offenders are properly brought to justice.