Police forces from across the country attend Lancashire-led child sexual exploitation conference

LANCASHIRE officers and their partner agencies have been explaining their approach to tackling child sexual exploitation at a special conference attended by police forces from across the country.

The event, held at the constabulary's headquarters, was set up after the excellent work being done by the force was highlighted by the Government at the end of last year. It was attended by representatives from 26 different police forces, CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) and the NPIA (National Police Improvement Agency.)
The tactics used in the county, including training all front line staff to understand and address the issues, working in partnership with relevant agencies and proactively gathering intelligence, were detailed in the Government's child sexual exploitation (CSE) action plan that was announced in December.

Those attending the conference heard about the process through which Lancashire Constabulary has now set up dedicated CSE teams in each policing division in the county. These teams of police officers and staff work with partner agencies to share information and take a joined up approach to tackling the issue. The teams then work closely with young people who are being exploited to find ways of helping them to break free from the situation, as well as ensuring those who commit such offences are brought to justice.

The CSE teams also place emphasis on delivering educational sessions in many schools and community groups; highlighting dangers, warning signs and raising awareness amongst teenagers about sexual exploitation. Similar presentations have been delivered to parents and referrals have come as a direct result of this awareness raising.
All of this is underpinned by strong partnership working through the local safeguarding boards. Speakers from Children's Social Care, the Health Service and the Children's Society all talked about the excellent partnership work that was in place in Lancashire during the seminar. Also present and speaking at the seminar was Sheila Taylor, MBE, the head of the National Working Group for Child Sexual Exploitation.

Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley, head of public protection for Lancashire Constabulary, said: "The force has been held up as an example of best practice in a number of national reports and we wanted to share our experiences with our colleagues from across the country. The conference has allowed us all to come together to share ideas and solutions to problems that we all face, so that we can build on the way in which we deal with child sexual exploitation."

He added: "Here in Lancashire we have six specialist multi-agency teams. This joined-up approach highlights our commitment to close partnership working and has meant that together we are able to provide a range of support for children and their families and that others can be put in place where needed.

"We are also consequently better able to identify, prevent and disrupt offenders, whilst identifying those who pose the greatest risk."

Det Supt Critchley said: "Although we are proud of what we have achieved in this important area we are not complacent and are striving to improve the service and protection we provide to the public. We will continue to target, warn and prosecute offenders to hit home the message that this type of behaviour is not just unacceptable, it is criminal, and we will pursue those people involved and bring them to justice.

"Our mission is to seek to stop children being abused and exploited; to prevent harm to those being abused and to help them get out of the exploitative relationship they are in; to bring to justice to all those who commit such abhorrent crimes and to ensure we effectively engage with the public of Lancashire in order to ensure that the public are confident to come forward when they require our help. The public expect us to protect children from being exploited and that is exactly what we will continue to deliver."