The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) recently reported on the Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks strand. The inquiry focused on six geographical areas (see box) and eight themes for the purposes of this investigation.

The themes were as follows:

• problem profiling (ie the collation of data and intelligence to provide a picture of the nature and extent of child sexual exploitation in a given area) and the disruption of suspects and perpetrators of child sexual exploitation
• empathy and concern for child victims
• risk assessment, protection from harm and outcomes for children
• missing children, return home interviews, children in care
• male victims
• children with disabilities
• partnership working between agencies responsible for tackling child sexual exploitation
• audit, review and performance improvement.