A campaign to enable the police to impose tough restrictions on suspected sex offenders has been backed by an MP.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins, former leader of Bradford Council, praised the recommendations in ‘Childhood Lost’ which says police need powers to restrict some people even if they have not been convicted of grooming and sexual exploitation.

Childhood Lost is being led by a group of charities and by Oxford MP Nicola Blackwood. She is tabling an amendment to planned legislation called the Antisocial Behaviour Bill in order to create Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Orders.

The court would then ban the suspect from particular activities – such as having children in their car, or entering areas where they could be targeting youngsters.

Yesterday, Keighley’s Asda hosted a roadshow as part of the “Know the Signs” of child sexual exploitation campaign.

Backed by a big screen video presentation police distributed leaflets and spoke to members of the public about how to identify and respond to this crime.