In the wake of the Rotherham abuse scandal, leaders from Cheshire agencies are carrying out a review of how they protect children.
Leaders from each agency will meet early next month to discuss the findings of the independent report into the systematic abuse of at least 1400 girls in Rotherham over a period of 16 years and review their processes.
The following statement of intent re. child sexual exploitation was issued on Wednesday, 3rd September.
"All of the agencies in Cheshire recognise that child sexual exploitation is a major issue across the UK. The crime is often hidden from view and goes unnoticed, vulnerable young girls and boys are groomed and then abused, leaving them traumatised and scarred for life. The recent report relating to Rotherham once again reminds us all and reinforces the scale and extent of this issue across the UK.
"We are all aware that in recent years some excellent work has been carried out locally in relation to child sexual exploitation and missing children, in particular children in care. This work has been driven by the Multi-Agency Strategic Group and delivered by the four local children's safeguarding boards who carry the statutory responsibility for protecting children.
"Working together, all the agencies have worked hard through campaigns to provide a real focus on how to recognise the signs of CSE. This work will continue.
"Those working in all agencies in our area are committed to safeguarding children. We have dedicated resources working in safeguarding, child sexual exploitation and investigating missing from home. We continue to work in partnership in each local authority area to safeguard children and do so proactively; seeking to prevent harm from occurring where we can.
"In the light of the shocking findings from Rotherham, we have jointly undertaken to review our processes against the independent report so that we, and consequently the public, can have confidence that we are doing everything we can to keep children safe. Leaders from each agency will attend a meeting early next month to discuss the findings from the report and our shared intentions to make children safe.
"We would welcome contact from anyone who has information that helps up keep children safe. Our communities can be assured that this is one of our top priorities."
The statement was signed by the Chief Crown Prosecutor, Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary, Assistant Director of National Probation Service, Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Chief Executives of Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington Borough Council and Halton Borough Council.
Cheshire Constabulary has also assigned a designated police officer to each care home in the county to act as a single point of contact.
DS Ruth Atherton said: "The aim is to build relationships in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those in care."
In October 2013 Ofsted published its first stand-alone Social Care Annual Report, which revealed that Cheshire East is one of 20 local authorities where the standard of child protection services was judged to be 'inadequate'.
The watchdog report on Cheshire East Council's child protection services was published following an unannounced inspection in March 2013 during which inspectors found that some children were left at potential risk of significant harm. For more information about Ofsted's report and Council Leader Michael Jones' response see my previous article 'Ofsted rates Cheshire East's child protection services as inadequate'.
The 20 councils judged to provide inadequate child protection services were: Barnsley, Bexley, Birmingham, Blackpool, Calderdale, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire East, Cumbria, Devon, Doncaster, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight, Kingston/Thames, Medway, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Rochdale, Sandwell, Slough and Somerset.
Photo: Simon Byrne, Chief Constable Cheshire Constabulary.
