Only four people in three years prosecuted under 'child grooming' law

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 21:01

ONLY four people in Scotland have been prosecuted under laws aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation, opposition politicians have claimed.

Yesterday, Green MSP Robin Harper said the legislation "clearly isn't working" and demanded the Scottish Government mounted an investigation.

Figures obtained by Mr Harper showed that between 2005 and 2008, only four adults were taken to court under the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act. One of the aims of that law – passed by MSPs in 2005 – was to make it easier to prosecute paedophiles who groom children for sex.

Mr Harper, a Lothians MSP, said: "The Scottish Government must investigate why the legislation is proving so ineffective, and take urgent action to keep our children safe."

Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo's Scotland, said : "This act should be being used to bring the exploiters to justice."

The Scottish Government said many laws covered child abuse and exploitation, and there had been 234 convictions for sex offences against children in the past year.