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Hundreds of grooming gangs victims who were unjustly criminalised will finally have their convictions quashed. The Government will table legislation to disregard and pardon child prostitution convictions after a sickening failure of justice. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said youngsters who faced appalling sexual exploitation were "let down by the system in so many ways". They were convicted while the true criminals - the adults who abused them - escaped prosecution, the Home Office said. It meant those acting under duress and fear were left with permanent criminal records. Gabrielle Shaw, chief executive of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), said: "No child should ever be criminalised for being a victim of abuse or exploitation and we sincerely hope that the pardoning of these unjust convictions will provide a sense of validation for those who are affected." She said recognition of abuse and being believed are crucial for survivors to feel like justice has been served. Ms Shaw said: "The decision to disregard and pardon these convictions is a significant step towards building a justice system that can offer better, more survivor-centred outcomes.” The change to the law will mean that criminal records for these offences will be expunged. Officials were unable to provide an exact number likely to be affected, but the move is expected to impact hundreds. Ms Phillips said: "These amendments send a clear message: we will not allow failures of the past to define the futures of those who were let down by the system in so many ways. “Victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation deserve nothing but compassion and support, not a criminal record. Today, we are taking decisive action to put that right." The measure was a recommendation in a key report by Baroness Louise Casey in June. The Government accepted all 12 measures she called for, including setting up a national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal. The disregard and pardon scheme will apply to those convicted for on-street prostitution offences when they were under 18. The concept of child prostitution was abolished from the legislation in 2015. Once it comes into force, the scheme will apply automatically - victims and survivors will not have to make a request. The Home Office said in a statement: "With today’s reforms, the government is ensuring that victims and survivors of horrific child sexual exploitation are no longer haunted by convictions that should never have been on their records in the first place." Alongside the amendment, the Ministry of Justice has announced tougher measures against strangulation or suffocation in pornography. Sites will be ordered to proactively detect and remove this or face enforcement action from Ofcom. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Viewing and sharing this kind of material online is not only deeply distressing, it is vile and dangerous. Those who post or promote such content are contributing to a culture of violence and abuse that has no place in our society. "We’re also holding tech companies to account and making sure they stop this content before it can spread. We are determined to make sure women and girls can go online without fear of violence or exploitation.”
