Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sajid Javid wants to eradicate UK's child abuse 'epidemic' as one in six children is violated

SAJID JAVID has vowed to take the child abuse “epidemic” head on as he leads an inquiry looking at sexual crimes against children, along with the Centre for Social Justice think tank.

Elaborating on the scale of child sex abuse in the UK, the former home secretary and chancellor said he had wrongly assumed “dealing with terrorists would weigh the most heavily” on him when he had assumed charge at Home Office in 2018.


“I was mistaken,” he said.

He noted that the National Crime Agency had recently estimated that there were at least 300,000 paedophiles in the UK.

“Referrals of child abuse images from industry alone are up 1,000 per cent since 2013 and evidence suggests that one in six children is sexually abused,” Javid said.

He also noted that by the end of March 2019, the police in England and Wales had recorded 73,260 sexual offences against children.

“These are shocking figures and why I wanted to work with the Centre for Social Justice to tackle this issue head on.”

The lockdown, he added, had become “a perfect storm for many children at risk of abuse”.

Javid said he would work with experts to expose “not just the extent of child sex abuse and exploitation in the country, but the general characteristics of the offenders and victims”.

The inquiry report will put forth “constructive proposals” for “decisive action to turn the tide”, he added.

Javid said the inquiry commission would analyse the “changing patterns of offending”, and identify the most vulnerable children.

“During our inquiry we will review existing data to assess the true scale of the problem and recommend a path to address this criminal activity,” he said.

The commission will also specifically examine the issue of child “grooming”, said Javid, adding that he intended to increase public awareness on the “abuse epidemic”.

"This project will leave no stones unturned," he assured.

Andy Cook, chief executive of Centre for Social Justice, said: “This is, unfortunately, a widespread issue and our new commission will look at what needs to be done to address it and stamp it out for good. We welcome Sajid Javid’s support at a time when over one in six British children are facing the sickening threat of sexual abuse.

“We are grateful to him for bringing his experience as home secretary to our commission and speaking out on this issue.”

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

India declines UN investigator’s participation in Air India crash probe: Report

INDIA has declined a request from the United Nations aviation agency to allow one of its investigators to observe the probe into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12, Reuters reported, citing two senior sources familiar with the matter.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had offered to provide assistance by sending one of its investigators, following the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner earlier this month. It was an unusual move, as ICAO typically deploys investigators only upon request from the country leading the investigation.

Keep ReadingShow less