Telford CSE inquiry: what improvements have authorities made one year on?
The first annual report by a new joint child sexual exploitation (CSE) review team has been published.
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
Almost a year on from a damning report which uncovered the scale of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Telford, a review has found “solid progress” has been made by authorities.
Last July, the Independent Inquiry into Telford Child Sexual Exploitation (IITCSE) found more than 1,000 children had been exploited in the town over at least 30 years.
It concluded authorities "ignored obvious child sexual exploitation", didn't share information properly between agencies, that children were blamed rather than the people exploiting them and that the exploitation was dismissed as "child prostitution".
The inquiry, chaired by Tom Crowther QC, reviewed evidence from victims and survivors detailing their abuse, as well as hundreds of pages of documents from authorities including West Mercia Police and Telford and Wrekin Council.
A number of survivors shared their harrowing experiences with us, describing how they were “failed” by authorities who should have safeguarded them.
In total, the inquiry put forward 47 recommendations which authorities should act upon in order to improve how they tackle CSE and safeguard young people.
They included:
- Authorities to review how they share information
- Police to review training and complaints procedure
- Police role in taxi licensing to be reviewed and for council to consider CCTV in vehicles
- Council to ring-fence funding for its Children Abused through Exploitation (CATE) team
- Council to introduce survivor counselling
- Training for NHS providers
- Schools to appoint an exploitation safeguarding lead
- Review of sexual health clinics
What progress has been made?
One of the recommendations by Mr Crowther was for authorities to set up a joint CSE review team to ensure a joined up approach to tackling the issue.
The group was tasked with producing an annual report to publish its progress. The first of those has been released, and will be discussed at Telford and Wrekin’s full council meeting next week.
In summary, the report outlines that 51% of the work done against the recommendations is now ready for review by Mr Crowther QC, and that will have reached 67% by the end of July.
The CSE review team said it plans to invite him back to Telford to review every recommendation at the end of the year, six months ahead of the deadline set.
What have authorities said about their progress?
In an interview with us today (5 June), West Mercia Police Assistant Chief Constable, Damian Barratt explained what the force has done in the last 12 months.
They were handed thirteen specific recommendations, with one of them to expand their specialist CSE team, after the inquiry found it had been scaled back to virtually nothing to save money.
ACC Barratt said: "We've worked really hard embracing the recommendations. What I would say is that our service that we provide in tackling CSE is the best it's ever been, but we recognise wavering commitment to continue to develop it.
"So, our work has very much been working on those recommendations, working with our partners and being able to deliver against them.
"I'm really confident our workforce is receptive at understanding and recognising vulnerability.
"The important work that we are doing by working with other partnerships in the local area to understand where the vulnerability occurs, what does it look like and bringing it to life for our staff.
"When we do that, I'm absolutely confident that they've got the commitment to attack it and address it."
Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: “We are determined to take action on every recommendation set out in the independent report.
“A year after its publication, we’re making solid progress. The work we’ve done against 51% of the recommendations we are responsible for is now ready for review by the independent chair of the inquiry, Tom Crowther KC. This will have reached 67% by the end of July. We plan to invite him back to Telford to review every recommendation at the end of this year, six months ahead of his deadline.”
Jo Britton, Executive Director for Children’s Services at Telford & Wrekin Council said: “This is not a paper exercise, this is about making a real difference in our communities.
“Regular input and robust challenge from our panel of people with lived experience of child sexual exploitation ensures that for every action we take, we are having an impact. We would like to thank them for their continued support and guidance.”
What do survivors make of the progress?
Three “lived experience consultees” are now working with the council and joint CSE review team.
They include Holly Archer and Scarlett Jones, who shared their harrowing CSE stories with us ahead of the inquiry last year. Joanne Phillips is also now using her own experience to inform and guide authorities to make changes.
Here, they explain their roles and what they think of the progress made in the year since the inquiry findings were published: