London, July 3 (IANS) Thousands of vulnerable children are being dumped in British care homes surrounded by sex beasts, a report has claimed.
Some homes are specifically targeted by abusers, says the report by Deputy Children’s Commissioner Sue Berelowitz, adding that kids as young as four have been victims of sexual exploitation by gangs.
Many of the homes are in rundown seaside resorts and near to bail hostels, sex offenders and high levels of drug use and prostitution, The Sun reported.
Berelowitz informed about the abuse as the government announced new reforms aiming better protect youngsters residing in the country’s 455 children’s homes, said The Independent.
The government action came following Berelowitz report, which was ordered after the jailing of a sex abuse ring in May which preyed on vulnerable girls in Rochdale town.
The ongoing inquiry has highlighted evidence that children in care are particularly vulnerable to child sex exploitation, with some residential homes being specifically targeted by abusers.
Berelowitz said her research found perpetrators come from all ethnic groups, as do their victims, who are as young as 11 and are largely but not exclusively girls.
Speaking alongside Children’s Minister Tim Loughton as he announced the new measures, she said: “I’ve been in the children’s services field for a very long time, and I have never come across the scale of violence and sadism that I’m encountering now.”
“The stories that children and young people tell us are truly horrific,” she added.
