Previous Reference: Minute 49 (2016/17)

The Strategic Director Children’s Services will present a report (Document “Z”) provides an update to the report presented to this Committee in 2017 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It sets out the arrangements that have been put in place, an which continue to develop, to safeguard children from CSE.

Recommended –

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)  That ways in which CSE can be tackled at a local level be considered.

(Mark Griffin – 01274 434361)

The Strategic Director Children’s Services presented a report (Document “Z”) which provided an update to the report presented to this Committee in 2017 regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The report set out the arrangements that had been put in place, and which continued to be developed to safeguard children from CSE.

The report included a summary of statistics and data prepared by the Bradford CSE Hub Intelligence Officer and Members questioned if rises in referrals of CSE cases depicted that the Bradford East Ward was experiencing increased incidents of CSE or that they more vigilant in reporting.  It was explained that the rise was a combination of better reporting but that there were vulnerable children in that Ward.  Targeted work had been undertaken with the night time economy in Bradford East and it was agreed to get information on the focus of that work to Members.

A Member referred to discussions with the Police at regular Ward Officer Team meetings and assurances that the Police would allocate extra officers to work with Children’s Residential Homes particularly to ensure children met their curfews.  It was questioned if that intervention had been successful and, in response, he was advised that there was a police focus on missing looked after children (LAC) and ensuring that whereabouts of LAC were known at all times.  A more cohesive response could be provided with the colocation of police and local authority personnel. 

The appendices to the report referred to Bradford East Youth Work Team developing work to support young people in identifying behaviours making them vulnerable to exploitation.  It was questioned how Members could obtain those services in their own Wards.  It was agreed that discussions would be undertaken with the Area Co-ordinator after the meeting.

Members questioned the effectiveness of ethnicity definitions contained in Document Z as it was felt that classing someone as ‘white-northern European’ was vague and ambiguous.  It was explained that the definition was a police term stipulated by the Home Office.  It was agreed that the term was unclear but it did help to dispel a myth that Asian men were the main perpetrators. 

It was noted that 73% of CSE flagged young people were female but that the ethnicity was not contained in Document “Z”.  Members stressed that in order to allow strategies to be developed more detailed information was required depicting the age, gender, ethnicity and location of those people.

A Member referred to two unsuccessful bids for funding to provide online safety sessions in local communities and questioned what funds were available for community centres trying to deliver preventative work.  It was stressed that previous bids had failed due to lack of evidence, however, it was felt that the need was evidenced in the statistics and data contained in Document “Z”.  It was agreed to discuss possible funding solutions, such as the NSPCC cyber strategy, outside of the meeting.

The Portfolio Holder, Health and Wellbeing reported an event undertaken by Year 10 pupils at Bradford Academy and explained that the school were offering to provide other courses. 

The NightWatch Programme engagement data, contained in the report, was discussed and the prevalence of incidents occurring in takeaway food outlets was questioned  Members were advised that places offering free attractions for children and free  Wi-Fi, continued to be approached through pro-active and enforcement outreach.

Following discussions about suggestions in the media that perpetrators were middle aged Asian men it was stressed that the statistics and intelligence revealed that the majority of offenders were under 25 years of age and offences occurred in all communities.

Resolved –

That the contents of the report be noted.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Children’s Services

(Children’s Service’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee)