FOREIGN students as young as 14 are in danger of being abused by paedophiles and violent criminals, according to a new report. Incredibly, there is no legislation in place to prevent criminals offering homes to thousands of visiting children from abroad every year. Sussex Police Sgt Kevin Wallis investigated the backgrounds of 700 host families in Eastbourne. His findings make disturbing reading. DAVID EDWARDS reports.

Sussex is a popular destination for foreign students with its 100-plus English language schools and nearness to London and the Continent.

Many schools arrange accommodation for youngsters in hostels or hotels but most are placed with host families who offer cheap and friendly accommodation.

For the vast majority of families, the student's welfare is their highest priority. But a small percentage, including drug dealers, child molesters and violent offenders, are intent on abusing the system.

Although many students are told to be wary when venturing onto the streets of a strange country, for some the real risk lies with the family which is supposed to be offering them a safe haven.

The extent of the problem in Sussex was unknown until Sgt Kevin Wallis of Eastbourne police had a call from colleagues in Avon and Somerset.

Det Chief Insp Chris Gould was carrying out an investigation into the number of host families who abused children in their care.

Eastbourne is a favourite destination for overseas students, so he wanted Sgt Wallis to pick a school in the town and see how many of its host families had criminal records.

He found that a convicted paedophile had been allowed to put up children as young as 14, while other offenders with convictions for indecency had been offering homes to vulnerable youngsters.

Of 700 families investigated, 28 had skeletons in their closets including convictions for robbery, serious assaults and drugs offences.

Many more had criminal records for lesser offences such as theft, or misdemeanours committed years before when they were juveniles.

Although there were no reports of any children falling victim to the criminals, the truth may never be known since most of the youngsters are back with their real families hundreds, maybe thousands of miles away.

Perhaps some, in their early teens and with a limited command of English, would have been too scared to go to the police in a strange country.

They may have worried about the prospect of a lengthy court case when they were due to fly home in a couple of weeks.

What is known for sure is that Det Chief Insp Gould's international survey revealed more than 550 cases where children had suffered some form of neglect or abuse from their host families. Ten per cent involved sexual abuse.

He said: "It frightens me quite desperately that here is a way that paedophiles can get into a position of trust with children in an area which has not been regulated.

"There are literally millions of children who take part in these courses and most are okay, but there's cause for concern.

"Our aim is to get some guidelines in place and ultimately some legislation pushed through."

Under the Children Act 1989, only host families who offer accommodation to students under 16 for more than 28 days must be screened by police and social services. There are no restrictions on the rest.

Schools which adopt a voluntary code of practice, set up by the Association of Recognised English Language Services, agree to screen all host families - but only 36 Sussex schools do so.

Sussex Police are already pushing through measures to tighten the law after an initiative by Eastbourne Council and the town's police.

Operation Bacardi introduced a code of practice for student organisations to sign up to and saw two officers assigned to their welfare during the summer.

The initiative has proved such a success that Sussex Police is launching a new operation to keep overseas students safe, codenamed Columbus, in late March.

One of its key aims will be to ensure their wellbeing with host families.

ASussex Police spokesman said: "We will be inviting representatives from over 100 language schools and I don't think any other force in the South of England is concentrating on the problem more. We want to deter people in Sussex who are thinking of looking after students for the wrong reasons.

"We fully support Avon and Somerset's research and support their calls for a change in the law."

Stuart MacDonald, of Language Studies International, based in Ventnor Villas, Hove, welcomed the plan. But he added: "The real problem is with 'mushroom schools' which pop up in the summer and then just disappear.

"They are completely unofficial and I doubt any legislation would affect their host families, who all seem to be a friend of a friend of an acquaintance."

The scheme is also supported by Eurocentres, which runs English courses for foreign students in North Street, Brighton.

Aspokesman said: "We run twice-yearly checks making a note of what the family has to offer but we don't know anything about their criminal backgrounds. It's just never crept up. I think legislation would be a good idea. There are so many people out there who want to have students and we don't know what their history is.

"I've been here for six years and although there have been personality clashes between students and host families, there has been nothing of a serious nature which has resulted in the police getting involved."

Geraldine Wilmshurst, of Capel Avenue, Peacehaven, takes on about three students a year from countries including Germany and Italy.

She said: "The schools give out some forms and you sign them to say you are okay but that's as far as it goes. I doubt they ever check them."

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