Child Grooming

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 17 March 2015.

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Photo of Simon Hughes Simon Hughes The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 11:30, 17 March 2015

We have taken action to enable the police to intervene earlier to protect children where there is a suspicion that grooming has taken place. As a result of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, which amended section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, we have reduced from two to one the number of initial occasions on which the defendant meets or communicates with a child considered at risk before prosecution can take place. I hope Bob Blackman believes that the Government are absolutely committed to making sure the law is as tough as it needs be to deal with this very serious evil.