THE NSPCC are asking the Government to fix a 'Flaw in the Law' of the UKs anti-grooming legislation
The NSPCC - National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children – have lauched a campaign called 'Flaw in the Law' - to put pressure on the goverment to sort out the UKs anti-grooming legislation.
As it stands, the UKs anti-grooming legislation created two years ago is still not in force, which means sexual preditors who send sexual messages to minors cannot be arrested or prosecuted in England or Wales.
Instead, police can only currently act once the paedophile meets the victim, which is obviously very worrying indeed, and means that thousands or preditors are going unpunished.
This is expecially worrying, as according to the NSPCC sexual grooming of children is on the rise.
"The number of adults meeting children after grooming them has more than tripled in 5 years," they explained, before adding, "Police recorded 1,122 offences of 'Meeting a Child Following Sexual Grooming' in the year to September 2016 - up from 345 for the year ending September 2011, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics."
READ: Internet paedophiles can groom a child in less than 20 minutes
Talking about the campaign, the NSPCC's chief executive, Peter Wanless, explained: "It is an utter disgrace that more and more sexual predators are meeting children after grooming them – but they cannot be arrested for grooming.
"Police are having to rely on other offences which means that they can’t intervene until a later stage in the abuse – which in some tragic cases is too late.
"The Government’s two-year delay in bringing this law into force is shameful, and unexplained. We urge the Government to stop dragging its feet and enact this law immediately to stop sex abuse before it starts."
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Most amazingly of all, the 'fix' is incredibly quick and simple. In order for police to be able to intervene earlier, the government just need to bring Section 67 of the Serious Crime Act into action. And for that to happen, Justice Secretary Liz Truss simply needs to sign a piece of paper and send it to Parliament.
Crazy, right?
And YOU can help make that happen by emailing Liz Truss here yourself.
The NSPCC's campaign isn't the only reason that child grooming is in the news. Coronation Street recently started a child grooming storyline featuring Bethany Platt played by actress Lucy Fallon.
And earlier this year a Loose Women investigation showed how easy it is for children to be targeted by paedophiles. Nadia Sawalha and Linda Robson spent a day with a woman who is part of a vigilant group called Internet Interceptors who aim to try and catch paedophiles by setting up fake "children" online profiles.
The presenters were shocked at how quick the predators were talking to them online. Linda said: "Within seconds, hundreds of middle aged men (approached us online), knowing they’re speaking to a child that age, they star befriending them and asking to meet them, asking them to undress…
“Honestly it was so distressing."
Are you worried about your child on the internet? What safety preventions do you have? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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