Children as young as 12 are carrying out "shocking" levels of sexual violence against victims who can be even younger, says a United Kingdom report.
For the first time, the true scale of sexual exploitation and violence against children and young people in England has been revealed after a two-year inquiry by the Office of the Children's Commissioner.
It found evidence of young people sexually assaulting other children - with some perpetrators only 12 or 13 years old.
Often the assaults take place in gang environments where it's seen as normal and inevitable.
The Children's Commissioner says child gangs are able to carry out the abuse because protection services are woefully inadequate.
The report's authors agree, saying many agencies are still forgetting children, failing to recognise victims and working in isolation.
Only 6 percent of Local Safeguarding Children Boards are complying fully with the government guidance on tackling sexual exploitation published four years ago.
A framework is now being developed to protect children and young people from harm and to ensure they are no longer ignored.
Watch the full story from ITV's Martha Fairlie in the player above.
source: newshub archive
