MP starts debate on abuse of children (From Bicester Advertiser)

MP starts debate on abuse of children

9:30am Wednesday 14th November 2012 in Headlines

SEXUAL exploitation of children in the UK was debated in Parliament after being brought to the House by an Oxfordshire MP.

Oxford West and Abingdon’s Tory MP Nicola Blackwood secured the debate, which happened yesterday.

She said girls were often lured into damaging relationships with their abusers, who would use threats, violence and intimidation to exert their power.

She said: “We should be aware that this very high level of national media attention is artificially pushing up reporting levels. But if increased reporting doesn’t lead to better prevention, detection and prosecution then the bravery of those who have come forward will have been for nothing.”

Oxford East Labour MP Andrew Smith added: “We need a pervasive campaign which gets across to all children the message... ‘it’s ok to tell someone’.”