Child sexual abuse Further 287 cases identified for review

Police forces in England and Wales have identified a further 287 historic cases of alleged child sexual exploitation by grooming gangs, Yvette Cooper told MPs yesterday.

- Rajeev Syal

The home secretary said the government was also planning to wipe the convictions of grooming victims prosecuted over soliciting for prostitution, after concerns that children had been criminalised.

The disclosures were made before a hearing of the home affairs select committee, where Cooper also:

Indicated the government would legislate for a "fast track" system to speed up the removal of people applying for asylum from "safe" countries.

Called for the creation of a digital service for e-visas and border control so that the government could monitor who was in the UK legally.

Voiced concern over the rising numbers of extremism offences by young people.