Jacqui Smith

The government has "more to do" to ensure adequate protection of all at-risk children, ministers have admitted.

The admission came as a joint report on "safeguarding children" was published by key watchdogs involved in the sector.

The report identifies good practice and lists a series of recommendations for government departments, as well as other national and local agencies

It claims that there is inadequate monitoring of dangerous individuals, including paedophiles.

"The safety of children is being compromised because of insufficient priority being given to the safeguarding of children," the report said.

"All areas were struggling to respond to unconvicted people who present a high risk of harm to the public, including children."

The report follows a programme of joint inspections undertaken in eight areas, combined with supporting evidence from other recent reviews.

The inspections sought to determine how well children are safeguarded from harm in their own homes, residential schools, hospitals, foster care, residential care and youth offender institutions, and how well agencies work together to safeguard children.

The watchdogs involved in the wide-ranging review included the Social Services Inspectorate and the Audit Commission, as well as those responsible for overseeing the police, prisons, probation services, schools and healthcare.

Jacqui Smith, the social services minister, welcomed the collaboration that produced the report.

"The government is committed to improving safeguards for children, and has introduced new legislation, new guidance, new structures and new policy initiatives to make children safer and to ensure that there is a proper focus on children at the very heart of government," she said.

"We do, however, recognise that there is still more to be done to ensure that the highest standards of child protection are applied in every case."

The government said it would "consider very carefully" the recommendations made in the report, before publishing its response by next spring.

The Conservatives said the blame for poor services rested with the government.

"The combination of ministers' lack of interest and the bungling of too many social security departments has left children dangerously at risk," said shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox.

"The serial tragedies we have we have witnessed are a sad testament to Labour's sorry priorities."