Last updated by Stephanie Rosser on Thursday, June 26, 2025

The Home Office has published an independent audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) in England and Wales. The review, led by Baroness Casey, looks at the scale, nature and characteristics of group-based CSEA, drivers of this type of offending, and the local and national response.

The report sets out 12 recommendations including changes to the law around rape and the launch of a national police operation and national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in England and Wales. A government response has been published accepting all 12 recommendations.

This NSPCC Learning briefing summarises the key findings from the report, including:

• what can be learnt about the scale of group-based child sexual exploitation (CSE)
• the nature of group-based CSE and the characteristics of victims and perpetrators
• the issues hampering efforts to protect children from ‘grooming gangs’
• recommendations to government, including the government’s response.

Further information about exploitation and risk in the community in Essex.