An official report by the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England says that "shocking" sexual violence is being carried out by children against other children. The report says that the perpetrators could be 12 or 13, and rape is seen as "normal and inevitable" in some areas, especially among gangs. It also claims that bullying and sexist attitudes exist across the whole country.
The Research conducted by the University of Bedfordshire into sexual violence in
gangs (It's wrong but you get used to it) suggested two-thirds of young people questioned (65%) knew of
young women who had been pressurised or coerced into sexual activity.
The report is the result of a two-year inquiry by the children's commissioner into child exploitation and gangs. It is being published alongside research on young people's
understanding of consent to sex, and a study on the pressures on young
people who have been raised in gang-affected neighbourhoods. It says legislation is there to protect children but
agencies from the police to social services need to become far better at
spotting children at risk and providing them with the necessary
protection.
