Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the report from The Children’s Commissioner, ‘If it’s not better, it’s not the end’, said:

“This report from the Children’s Commissioner highlights worrying gaps in our child protection system. Although the vast majority of local authorities and police forces have strategies in place to deal with child sexual exploitation, in too many cases this is not filtering through to the frontline. This means in too many cases children are not being listened to, victims are not getting the protection they need and abusers are not being brought to justice.

“And, as this report sets out, it is shameful the Government has failed to respond to calls from children, parents, campaigners, child protection experts and the Labour Party to introduce age-appropriate compulsory sex and relationship education, which has zero tolerance to violence at its core and teaches young people about the importance of respect and sexual consent. The Tories may want to carry on ignoring this tidal wave of evidence, but Labour won’t. Age-appropriate compulsory sex and relationship education in all state-funded schools will be included in the Labour Manifesto.”