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Police step up grooming probe
Police say they have "improved" procedures in a bid to combat the grooming of under-age girls across the district.
The force spoke out after a BBC Panorama programme highlighted the issues last night.
Five years ago, several Keighley men served time in prison following a police investigation into the grooming of young girls in the town, dubbed Operation Parsonage.
While specific figures relating to grooming were not available from West Yorkshire Police yesterday, a spokesman said inquiries continued to be "on-going" although no arrests had been made recently.
She said: "We have improved our procedures to receive intelligence and information from other agencies and we have developed guidance on intervention options to protect young people at risk and change their behaviour. We have hosted national consultations to learn from other police forces and partner agencies across the country."
Bradford Council confirmed it has a network of trained child champions to support youngsters who may be at risk from sexual abuse.
Last year, more than 120 professionals and foster carers from agencies across the district were trained in how to deal with suspected groomers and were also briefed on the full range of support services available for children and families affected by sexual exploitation.
Paul Hill, manager of Bradford Safeguarding Children Board, said: "We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to work with other agencies to support anyone who may be facing this dangerous situation. Bradford has a safeguarding protocol which provides clear guidance about how to support a child at risk of grooming."
Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bing-ley), Bradford Council's executive member for services to children and young people, said: "Adults grooming vulnerable children and young people for sex is a national issue. This is not tolerated in Bradford."
Children's charity Barnardo's launched an education pack in Bradford yesterday which aims to help girls and young women being abused through prostitution.
The pack records the experiences of Aaliyah, now 21, who lives in Bradford. She lost her virginity aged 14 after getting involved with a group of men.
She described an episode in her life when she was 14: "I met some lads in Halifax with a friend, they were nice to us. We wanted to get back to Bradford, but they said the only way they'd take us back was if we slept with them. I did sleep with the lad, I felt under pressure."
Keeping Safe packs are available from www.barnardos.org.uk, or by calling (0113) 393 3200.
5:33am Friday 28th March 2008
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