Lord Polak is a Conservative peer.
Abuse ruins lives. It is a stark reality that sexual and domestic abuse have a devastating impact, particularly when it comes to children. The effects are intricate and far-reaching, often lingering with victims for a lifetime.
It’s not a ground-breaking revelation to say that traumas like sexual abuse and domestic abuse in childhood have lasting consequences. Experts have known this for decades, understanding the profound influence these experiences can have on people’s lives.
With the right support, children and young people who have endured abuse can find a path to recovery, but the key lies in ensuring that the necessary support is readily available.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting young survivors of sexual abuse in Parliament. Their courage in sharing their incredibly harrowing stories highlighted the transformative impact of specialist therapy and practical support. Accessing these services was nothing short of life-changing for them.
Research conducted by Barnardo’s sheds light on a significant shortfall in the number of specialist workers required to support child victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Astonishingly, fewer than one in five advocates (16.9 percent) commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners in 2023-24 were specifically designated to support children, despite children being disproportionately affected by these forms of abuse.
Children make up 40 percent of all sexual offense victims despite constituting only 20 percent of the total population. This stark disproportion underscores the urgent need for targeted support.
Evidence shows that one in five children will be exposed to domestic abuse before reaching 18, with three in 20 girls and one in 20 boys experiencing sexual abuse in their childhood. It is evident that the impact on children is substantial and distinct, requiring a tailored response that addresses different risk factors, safeguarding processes, and specialised support.
Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Children’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisers both play a crucial role in supporting child victims. They focus on addressing the practical challenges and emotional trauma associated with abuse and exploitation.
This includes helping children to understand and navigate the criminal justice process, acting as a point of contact with the police and courts, signposting to support services and providing emotional and wellbeing support.
However, the current distribution of support workers is far from sufficient, resulting in a postcode lottery for victims seeking specific support for children. This fiscal year saw over six times more advocates for adult victims of domestic abuse than for child victims, and nearly four times more advocates for adult victims of sexual violence than for child victims.
Barnardo’s calculations indicate a need for over 2,000 advocates annually to adequately support child victims of domestic abuse. Currently, there are only 84 commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners. Similarly, an additional 500 workers are required to support victims of child sexual abuse.
Moreover, the existing support workers are not evenly distributed across the country, exacerbating the challenges faced by victims in accessing uniform assistance and underscoring the urgent need for change.
The abuse that children and young people experience can look very different to that of adults, impacting them in different ways. That is why a tailor-made response is required; support workers who primarily deal with adult cases are not necessarily trained or equipped to support children.
As the Victims and Prisoners Bill is debated in the House of Lords, the Government has a unique opportunity to make a significant impact. By placing a duty on authorities to commission sufficient, child-specific support and advocacy services, along with developing separate statutory guidance, child victims of abuse can access uniform support, regardless of their location.
The effects of abuse linger into adulthood and can cause mental health issues, substance abuse, and employment struggles for survivors. Children exposed to domestic abuse may also experience long-term challenges, affecting their mental and physical health, difficulty adjusting at school, behavioural problems, and feelings of responsibility and blame for negative events.
Child victims and survivors deserve the right support at the time they need it most, enabling them to recover and lead fulfilling lives. The Government has a crucial opportunity to act, and it’s time to seize it.
Lord Polak is a Conservative peer.
Abuse ruins lives. It is a stark reality that sexual and domestic abuse have a devastating impact, particularly when it comes to children. The effects are intricate and far-reaching, often lingering with victims for a lifetime.
It’s not a ground-breaking revelation to say that traumas like sexual abuse and domestic abuse in childhood have lasting consequences. Experts have known this for decades, understanding the profound influence these experiences can have on people’s lives.
With the right support, children and young people who have endured abuse can find a path to recovery, but the key lies in ensuring that the necessary support is readily available.
Recently, I had the privilege of meeting young survivors of sexual abuse in Parliament. Their courage in sharing their incredibly harrowing stories highlighted the transformative impact of specialist therapy and practical support. Accessing these services was nothing short of life-changing for them.
Research conducted by Barnardo’s sheds light on a significant shortfall in the number of specialist workers required to support child victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Astonishingly, fewer than one in five advocates (16.9 percent) commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners in 2023-24 were specifically designated to support children, despite children being disproportionately affected by these forms of abuse.
Children make up 40 percent of all sexual offense victims despite constituting only 20 percent of the total population. This stark disproportion underscores the urgent need for targeted support.
Evidence shows that one in five children will be exposed to domestic abuse before reaching 18, with three in 20 girls and one in 20 boys experiencing sexual abuse in their childhood. It is evident that the impact on children is substantial and distinct, requiring a tailored response that addresses different risk factors, safeguarding processes, and specialised support.
Children’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Children’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisers both play a crucial role in supporting child victims. They focus on addressing the practical challenges and emotional trauma associated with abuse and exploitation.
This includes helping children to understand and navigate the criminal justice process, acting as a point of contact with the police and courts, signposting to support services and providing emotional and wellbeing support.
However, the current distribution of support workers is far from sufficient, resulting in a postcode lottery for victims seeking specific support for children. This fiscal year saw over six times more advocates for adult victims of domestic abuse than for child victims, and nearly four times more advocates for adult victims of sexual violence than for child victims.
Barnardo’s calculations indicate a need for over 2,000 advocates annually to adequately support child victims of domestic abuse. Currently, there are only 84 commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners. Similarly, an additional 500 workers are required to support victims of child sexual abuse.
Moreover, the existing support workers are not evenly distributed across the country, exacerbating the challenges faced by victims in accessing uniform assistance and underscoring the urgent need for change.
The abuse that children and young people experience can look very different to that of adults, impacting them in different ways. That is why a tailor-made response is required; support workers who primarily deal with adult cases are not necessarily trained or equipped to support children.
As the Victims and Prisoners Bill is debated in the House of Lords, the Government has a unique opportunity to make a significant impact. By placing a duty on authorities to commission sufficient, child-specific support and advocacy services, along with developing separate statutory guidance, child victims of abuse can access uniform support, regardless of their location.
The effects of abuse linger into adulthood and can cause mental health issues, substance abuse, and employment struggles for survivors. Children exposed to domestic abuse may also experience long-term challenges, affecting their mental and physical health, difficulty adjusting at school, behavioural problems, and feelings of responsibility and blame for negative events.
Child victims and survivors deserve the right support at the time they need it most, enabling them to recover and lead fulfilling lives. The Government has a crucial opportunity to act, and it’s time to seize it.