The Strategic Director Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “AC”) which provides an update to the report presented to this  Area Committee in 2016 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It sets out the arrangements that have been put in place, and which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

Recommended –

(1)       The Bradford South Area Committee is invited to note the            contents of this report.

(2)       The South  Area Committee is invited to consider ways in which           CSE can be tackled at a local level.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

The Strategic Director Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “AC”) which provided an update to the report presented to the Area Committee in 2016, regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It set out the arrangements that had  been put in place, and which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

The Assistant Director Performance, Commissioning and Partnerships,  an intelligence officer from the Safeguarding Hub, a Police Superintendent and a Youth Service Practitioner were present at the meeting to give an overview of the work done and to respond to Members’ questions.

The Assistant Director stated that information pertaining to CSE in the district had been referred to the Independent Inquiry into CSE.  The report set out the local context as well as the situation within the Bradford South area.  She highlighted that specific training had been undertaken with taxi drivers and it was the intention to roll this out to the PTS drivers and METRO.  A play aimed at explaining the issue to secondary aged pupils continued to highlight and raise awareness of CSE.  A further play aimed at primary aged children was also in the process of being rolled out.  The work of the multi agency hub was alluded and the role it played in tackling CSE.  The Assistant Director also drew attention to the increase in the number of reported cases, which could be put down to the increase confidence in reporting.  In relation to the Bradford South area, up to the 27 October 2016, 76 young people had been identified as at risk of CSE, including 11 considered to be at high risk.  In addition the Ward with the highest number of at risk children was Wyke, with Tong, Wibsey and Royds close behind.

The Youth Service Practitioner for the Bradford South area was present and stated that working in partnership with all, in particular young people was key in addressing the issue and encourage peers to help each other identify and to be confident to report concerns around CSE to a responsible adult.  In addition vulnerability was a particular area of focus and attention, and work was on going to try and engage young people with the communities they live in.

A Superintendent from West Yorkshire Police stated that processes in relation to tackling CSE had been reviewed by the multi agency hub and they were in the process of being implemented.  He stressed that the increase in the number of reported cases had to be seen as a positive step.

During the discussion Members asked a number of question, the questions together with the responses are detailed below:

That in acknowledging the increase in the number of referrals to the hub, the report failed to quantify or give an explanation behind the numbers.  In addition it failed to give a comparison in terms of the current number of live cases and the corresponding picture from a year ago.  In response the intelligence officer to the Hub explained that the numbers changed on a daily basis and it was therefore extremely difficult to extrapolate and analyse the data in a meaningful way.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder stated that in relation to referrals, all referrals had to be seen in a positive light,  and there was no such thing as a wrong referral.

A Member stated that the data did not give a breakdown on the ethnicity of the victims and that this information would be useful, as there was anecdotal evidence that the number of CSE cases amongst the new emerging communities was increasing, as well as an increase in the number of children reported missing were from these communities.

In response the Assistant Director acknowledged the concerns, however breakdowns in terms of ethnicity were difficult to extrapolate as the data collected was not always accurate in term of how people identified themselves in terms of ethnicity.

The Superintendent from West Yorkshire Police highlighted that it was important to understand that victims did not always see themselves as victims of CSE and barriers had to be broken down to address the issue head on.

The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder stressed that in relation to the new emerging communities it was important to understand that a number had been referred into care, and that within a family context we were sometimes dealing with a large number of siblings, however the early help offer was working well in addressing some of the issues.

A Member highlighted the need to train bus drivers on CSE so they could identify issues of concern. In response the Assistant Director stated that it was an issue that Metro was looking with a view to rolling out appropriate training.

A number of Members had viewed the new play “Mr Shape Shifter” aimed at primary aged children, and  the difference it would make in highlighting the issue of CSE.

In relation to assessing risk it was stated that an assessment was done immediately following a referral and appropriate action taken.

In relation to what role Members can play in tackling CSE,  the Assistant Director stated that Member’s role was crucial, and she urged that Members continue to work with their constituents, community groups and the Youth Service in identifying risk and to understand that CSE can happen in a variety of settings,  and that it was important not to be complacent about the issue.

The Chair ascertained whether  organisations involved with young people, in particular youth groups were aware of safeguarding issues.  In response the Assistant Director stated that work had been done to advise organisations that relevant safeguarding assessments should be  undertaken, and that it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure this happened.

Resolved –

(1)       That future reports on tackling Child Sexual Exploitation provides        better / more clarity on the data sets presented, which makes             comparisons / analysis easier.

(2)       That links between the CSE hub and the Youth Service be          strengthened.

(3)       That clear links be established to support lower risk cases to     agencies that can support young people in a timely way.

(4)       That in tackling CSE there is a greater focus on the new emerging        communities.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services