Police in Grooming Gang Town Graded Inadequate on Child Abuse Response
A report reveals Cleveland Police’s inadequate response to child exploitation cases, raising concerns about the safety of vulnerable children.
Cleveland, UK, Child Abuse, Grooming Gang, Police Response
Cleveland: A recent report has slammed the local police for their poor handling of child abuse cases. It turns out they’ve been rated as inadequate in dealing with child sexual exploitation.
The inspectors pointed out that Cleveland Police still don’t get how missing kids are linked to exploitation. This is a big deal, especially since there have been serious cases in the past.
Back in 2014, three guys from Middlesbrough were jailed for grooming and abusing seven girls, the youngest being just 14. They lured these girls in with food, rides, and drugs. It’s heartbreaking.
Fast forward to now, and the inspectors are saying the police still aren’t doing enough to protect vulnerable kids. They need more trained officers to handle these sensitive cases, but right now, they’re way short on staff.
The report also highlighted that the police aren’t keeping track of the ethnic backgrounds of the kids being targeted. This lack of data means they can’t really understand the risks involved for different groups.
Michelle Skeer, the Inspector of Constabulary, made it clear that the police aren’t recognizing the risks to missing children. They’re not responding effectively either, which is pretty alarming.
She mentioned that even though the police have tried to train their staff, it hasn’t really led to better outcomes for the kids involved. That’s just not good enough.
As calls for a public inquiry grow, the report also shared a concerning example of how the police handled a missing 15-year-old girl. It took them over five hours to respond, and during that time, they didn’t do much to find her.
When she returned, the police didn’t even ask if she was safe at her boyfriend’s house. It’s like they weren’t even curious about her situation.
There were also some troubling comments in case reviews that seemed to blame the victims instead of focusing on the risks they faced. This kind of thinking can really hurt the way cases are handled.
Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker acknowledged the challenges posed by social issues in the area. He’s committed to improving the situation and ensuring that vulnerable children get the protection they need.
He emphasized that keeping kids safe in Teesside is a top priority for the police, and they’re determined to work hard with partners to make sure these kids receive the care they deserve.