Citation

Ayre P, Barrett D. Child. Soc. 2000; 14(1): 48-59.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, National Children's Bureau of the United Kingdom, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1099-0860.2000.tb00150.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Since the mid-1970s, we have developed in England and Wales a complex and sophisticated inter-agency system dedicated to protecting children from abuse. However, we have failed to apply it effectively to the protection of young people sexually abused through involvement in prostitution. This paper examines some of the reasons for this failure and identifies a number of characteristics of the child protection system which seem to fit it poorly for work with these young people. It is argued that lasting improvement in their well-being depends on the creation of truly 'joined-up', integrated, interdisciplinary services addressing the whole range of their needs.