EXCLUSIVE: Just over 1% of Child Sexual Exploitation reports in West Yorkshire led to a charge or summons
The picture is similar pre-pandemic- with only 7% resulting in a charge or summons in 2018
Last updated 22nd Nov 2021
We can exclusively reveal that shockingly just over 1% of child sexual exploitation reports in West Yorkshire led to a charge or summons this year.
It’s as we investigate the issue across the county, following a damming report into Bradford Council’s handling of CSE, with MPs now calling for a Rotherham-style inquiry by the government.
Data from West Yorkshire Police, which spans from 2000-2021, shows a huge contrast in reported crimes and charges/ summons made.
This year there were 3076 reported crimes and 47 charges, in 2020, there were 4205 reports and 210 charges.
Has the pandemic impacted the number of charges?
The data we have obtained shows the same picture, even before the pandemic.
In 2018, there was 4911 reported crimes and 382 charges/ summons. That's just 7%.
'A postcode lottery'
Robert Balfour from West Yorkshire Survivors tells us the system needs to change:
"It can be an amazing experience if you get the right police officers and the right outcomes, but if you don't it can be an absolute rollercoaster of re-traumatisation and that's the issue the system faces; overloading demand and inconsistency in approach to those people who actually go down that route.
"The lottery is who you engage with, the system you engage with.
"It's the system that is fragile, because it can't deal with what is coming through the door, and reacts to it in a way that creates more trauma, that's what has to change."
West Yorkshire Police's response:
Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller, of West Yorkshire Police, said:
“Child sexual exploitation is an absolutely abhorrent crime and West Yorkshire Police is committed to dismantling CSE networks, protecting victims and those at risk, and seeking justice for those who have suffered at the hands of abusers.
“Tackling CSE remains a top priority for the force and we have invested significantly in our safeguarding capabilities.
“Each of West Yorkshire’s five policing districts has its own dedicated inter-disciplinary child safeguarding team. These teams manage investigations and also work closely with multi-agency partners in child protection, including the NHS, local authorities, charities and schools.
“This multi-agency approach allows not only for the most effective investigation but ensures appropriate safeguarding measures are considered for any child deemed to be at risk.
“Over recent years the force has worked hard to ensure that all sexual offending against all victims is accurately recorded and thoroughly investigated by specialist staff.
“Increases in the number of sexual offences recorded are as a result of improved crime recording and also due to well publicised, non recent, cases which have given victims the confidence to report crimes knowing that their reports will be taken seriously regardless of when the offence occurred.
“The force continues to bring complex criminal cases to court with partners, and these investigations have resulted in hundreds of years of custodial sentences being handed down to persons responsible for this awful abuse.
“Safeguarding work undertaken by the force in recent years has included schools engagement projects, collaborative work with charities and campaigns including Who Are You Really Talking To? and Know The Signs, aimed at helping children and parents spot grooming activity.
“Protecting children and putting the victim at the heart of everything we do is our primary focus and I cannot stress how important it is for victims to tell us what has happened to them to give us a chance to put abusers behind bars.
“We want victims to be reassured that we do and will treat them with the utmost sensitivity, and that their needs and welfare are paramount.”