A coalition of social services agencies has called for restorative justice in cases where young people are convicted of sexual offences.
The Inter-Agency Committee for Children and Families said people convicted of sexual offences, particularly those aged under 18, needed to understand the harm they caused their victims and help to tackle the causes of the behaviour to prevent further offending.
Kelly Hunt, executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said: “The need for continued preventive education is clear as inappropriate touching between peers and the sexual exploitation of young people remains an issue heavily impacting our youth.