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2018.11.20
8 Deputy K.G. Pamplin of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the government
funding provided to tackle child sexual exploitation online: [OQ.195/2018]
Would the Minister provide a breakdown of any Government funding provided in the last 5 years to tackle child sexual exploitation online and state what funding is allocated for this purpose in 2019?
The Connétable of St. Clement (The Minister for Home Affairs):
Work to tackle child sexual exploitation both online and more broadly has been led by the Safeguarding Partnership Board since 2013. It remains a priority for the States of Jersey Police supported by other partners to keep children safe and bring perpetrators to justice. Education is key to safeguarding our children. Work in this regard has included the delivery in Jersey of "Chelsea's Choice", an applied theatre production delivered to 1,500 children in late 2017, and the ongoing N.S.P.C.C. (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) Pantosaurus' campaign. "Prison! Me! No Way!" continues to work in all schools making our children better informed, including with regard to online child sexual exploitation. The "Get Safe" online initiative is also being delivered across the Crown Dependencies and encompasses the safeguarding of children. Furthermore, child sexual exploitation training continues to be delivered by the Safeguarding Partnership Board to all staff involved with children around combating child sexual exploitation in accordance with the 2016-18 action plan.
- Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
I thank the Minister for his answer. Today is World Children's Day and there seems to be a growing commitment across the Commonwealth and across the world to tackle what is a growing concern for parents, including myself, that we fully get behind this going forward. I welcome the Minister for Education and the Minister for Children and Housing to speak on this matter. The U.K. Government have shown their commitment recently, throwing up an extra £250,000 being made available to support new ideas on how to detect and disrupt the streaming of abuse. Is this something that the new Government will be looking to also support from a local level?
The Connétable of St. Clement :
I can confirm to the Deputy that that commitment that he spoke about throughout the Commonwealth is alive and well in Jersey, too. I am aware that some additional funding has been requested. The question is a very appropriate one and a live issue and, quite honestly, it reminds me that I need to have discussions with the Chief Minister and the Minister for Children and Housing to see how we can best take this matter forward even quicker and more appropriately.
- Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
On the basis of the Minister's last answer, would he be able to give a rough timeline when he could have those conversations and bring something back to the Assembly?
The Connétable of St. Clement :
I do not like putting too tight a timeline on it because it could be a hostage to fortune, but we will get together with the Minister for Children and Housing and the Chief Minister as soon as practicable.