Background Use of premises for child sex offences
31.The National Group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People (SVACV) is a panel of experts that was established by the Government to co-ordinate and implement the learning from recent inquiries into historical sexual abuse and current sexual violence cases. On 24 July 2013, the Government published a progress report and action plan on the work of the Group.(14) The action plan included work to enhance measures to disrupt and prevent child sexual exploitation (“CSE”), including raising awareness within areas or environments associated with CSE, for example, the night time economy, hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation.
32.A feature of recent CSE cases has been the use of premises such as hotels, take-away outlets or accommodation to groom and sexually exploit children.
33.Powers to close premises are available under Part 2A of the Sexual Offences Act. However, these relate only to prostitution and pornography offences. They do not apply to premises which are being used to perpetrate other sexual offences against children. The provisions in section 115 of and Schedule 6 to the Act extend the closure powers in the Sexual Offences Act so that they can be used in connection with a wider range of offences and to conduct preparatory to offences (such as grooming). Sections 116 to 118 provide the police with an additional tool to tackle CSE taking place at hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation. They will allow the police to require such establishments to provide information about guests, where they reasonably believe CSE has been or will be taking place on the premises.