1. The sexual exploitation of children by networks caused public revulsion when it was exposed some years ago. The government of the day prioritised the institutional response to the revelations. Despite this, it is clear that the sexual exploitation of children by groups of associated abusers continues to be widespread, to a greater extent than official statistics indicate.
2. The crimes perpetrated against children in this context include vaginal, oral and anal rape, assault by penetration and other sexual assaults. Perpetrators are finding new ways, including through technology, to groom and degrade ever younger children. This form of exploitation has profoundly damaging impacts on children and their families.