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EXPLAINED: Dame rachel - The Real Truth

Hundreds of children subjected to ‘intrusive and traumatic’ strip searches

A report by the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza estimates 377 strip searches took place in 2024

The Independent UK · Apr 22

The ‘hidden crisis’ stopping hundreds of children from leaving hospital

A new report from the Children’s Commissioner found more than 400 children had spent half their lives in hospital

The Independent UK · Mar 23

Children ‘routinely bombarded’ with ads for appearance-changing products online

The Children’s Commissioner said children were routinely exposed to products such as weight loss injections, skin lightening products and steroids.

Evening Standard · Feb 10

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Children’s tsar urges parents to ditch their phones during festive family time

Dame Rachel de Souza’s comments came as she launched a new guide offering parents tips and advice for online safety, as well as around screen time.

Evening Standard · Dec 18, 2025

Parents told not to do everyday habit during Christmas

Dame Rachel admitted she had previously been ‘as guilty’ on the issue

The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025

‘Dangerous’ young offender institutions should be shut down, children’s commissioner says

Dame Rachel de Souza has called for a new youth justice system "based primarily upon a rehabilitative model of care”

The Independent UK · Nov 11, 2025

Mental health and poverty among issues worrying school leaders outside classroom

Some 86% of state-funded schools and colleges in England – both primary and secondary – were surveyed by the Children’s Commissioner’s office.

The Independent UK · Sep 7, 2025

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Dame Rachel de Souza Blames VPNs for Alarming Spike in Pornographic Exposure Among Children Below 18 Years Old

Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza sounds the alarm on drastic spine in pornographic exposure among young users. She urges the government to stop children from accessing VPNs.

International Business Times UK · Aug 19, 2025

Commissioner: Close loophole allowing children to access online pornography

Rachel de Souza’s office’s latest report found the proportion of children saying they have seen such content online has risen in the past two years.

Evening Standard · Aug 19, 2025

Government must stop children using VPNs to dodge age checks on porn sites, commissioner demands

Dame Rachel de Souza warns it is ‘absolutely a loophole that needs closing’ as new report finds proportion of children who report accessing pornography online has increased over last two years

The Independent UK · Aug 19, 2025

Rising number of children viewing violent and degrading pornography online, commissioner says

Some children are accessing pornography ‘accidentally through dangerous algorithms’

The Independent UK · Aug 18, 2025

Children still ‘waiting far too long’ for mental health care, commissioner warns

The most common reason for referral during the period was anxiety.

Evening Standard · May 17, 2025

Children’s commissioners call for a complete ban on smacking

‘Let this be Sara’s legacy,’ England’s child commissioner says

The Independent UK · Apr 30, 2025

‘Let UK-wide smacking ban be murdered 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s legacy’

Smacking is illegal in Wales and Scotland but there remains a legal defence in England and Northern Ireland.

The Independent UK · Apr 30, 2025

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The Independent UK · Apr 28, 2025

Call for total ban on deepfake apps used to create explicit images of children

The Government must take action to stop abuse, Children’s Commissioner says

Evening Standard · Apr 28, 2025

Ban AI ‘nudification’ apps enabling sexual abuse, Children’s Commissioner says

Dame Rachel de Souza has called for the Government to ban ‘nudification’ apps.

The Independent UK · Apr 20, 2025

Parents should stop being ‘child’s friend’ over phones – children’s commissioner

Nearly a quarter of children spend more than four hours a day on an internet-enabled device, a survey suggested earlier this month.

The Independent UK · Feb 27, 2025

Children in youth custody ‘failed’ before they arrive – Children’s Commissioner

Dame Rachel de Souza has warned secure settings risk turning out ‘hardened criminals with a palpable distrust in the state’ .

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Evening Standard · Dec 12, 2024

Sara Sharif: Keir Starmer says 'questions need to be answered' over abuse and murder of 10-year-old girl

PM calls the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif ‘shocking’ and ‘awful’

The Independent UK · Dec 12, 2024

Sara Sharif murder: Children at risk of abuse ‘must not be home educated’

Sara’s father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool were found guilty of murder while her uncle Faisal Malik was guilty of allowing the death.

The Independent UK · Dec 11, 2024

Furious children’s commissioner says Sara Sharif failed by social services

Social services closed schoolgirl’s case six days after teachers made a referral over bruises on her face

The Independent UK · Nov 18, 2024

Vulnerable children placed in caravan and Airbnb – Children’s Commissioner

Dame Rachel de Souza said many children are living in ‘highly unsuitable’ placements while deprived of their liberty.

The Independent UK · Nov 17, 2024

Domestic violence victim placed in caravan instead of home, damning report finds

Rachel de Souza, England’s children’s commissioner, said her research shows children’s basic rights to safety and happiness are ‘too often being ignored’

The Independent UK · Oct 15, 2023

Vaping policy must be as strong as smoking plans, says Children’s Commissioner

The Government has launched an eight-week consultation on vaping amid concerns of a rise in popularity among young people.

The Independent UK · Sep 14, 2023

Children’s commissioner calls for urgent clarity on schools’ trans policy after Sunak ‘U-turn’

Dame Rachel de Souza says teachers, families and pupils are “crying out for” guidance for schools

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