Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to create pardonable offences for victims of child sexual exploitation whose criminal record arose as a result of their exploitation.

Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that has a devastating impact on victims and survivors. The Government’s Victims Strategy outlines our commitments to improve support for victims of child sexual abuse by making sure that criminal justice agencies recognise exploitation when they see it and respond appropriately.

The government has no current plans to create pardonable offences for victims of child sexual exploitation whose criminal record arose as a result of their exploitation. Applications for pardons are considered on a case-by-case basis.