Shropshire Star

Rise in child sex exploitation cases reported across Shropshire

Suspected cases of child sex exploitation are also on the rise across the whole of Shropshire, figures reveal today.

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The latest statistics show there were 39 cases referred to Shropshire Council's child sex exploitation panel from April 2013 to March this year.

That is an increase of 44 per cent on the 27 cases reported to the panel between April 2012 and March last year.

Council chiefs today called on people to look out for and report suspected cases of child sex exploitation in the county.

They believe that the publicity brought by Operation Chalice in Telford and the latest scandal of sex exploitation in Rotherham may encourage more victims to come forward.

It emerged last week that the number of young victims abused in the South Yorkshire town may run to more than 1,400, leading to high-profile resignations. The issue has now been brought into the public arena, while before it was a hidden problem that was almost taboo to talk about.

Councillor Joyce Barrow, chair of Shropshire Council's young people's scrutiny panel, said: "While this increase in referrals shows that agencies in Shropshire are becoming more confident in identifying potential cases of child sexual exploitation and protecting those at risk, it is evident that child sexual exploitation is happening in Shropshire.

"Sadly child sexual exploitation is happening across the country, including right here in Shropshire.

"The county's child protection agencies are working closely together to identify cases in Shropshire and to help protect our vulnerable children. However, we really do need people to be aware that this is something that is happening in the county, and we need people to help us by reporting any actual or suspected cases that they are aware of.

"The panel is able to take steps to disrupt the activity of child sexual exploitation by utilising local authority child protection measures and the powers available to the police and schools."

The rise in reported cases in Shropshire is in line with the picture across the country.

A national report published in 2013 found 16,500 children and young people were at risk of child sexual exploitation, though it claimed the actual figure was much higher.

Labour today said it would make it mandatory to report allegations of sexual abuse in an effort to prevent a repeat of the Rotherham scandal.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the measure would help change the culture of institutions where abuse claims had not been taken seriously enough in the past.

See also:

  • Telford victim: 'Abusers stole my childhood'

  • Council: We acted promptly on Telford child sex abuse claims

  • Star comment: Our duty to protect children

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