A CONFERENCE to help formulate the Muslim community's response to the threat of grooming in the city will take place this week with a panel of experts lined up to discuss the issue.

The Professional Muslims Institute (PMI) has organised the Child Sexual Exploitation and the Muslim Community's Response conference with the intention of learning more about the issue and finding ways for that community to play a role in safeguarding those at risk from child sexual exploitation.

According to the annual report from Bradford's Safeguarding Children Board, there are usually between 60 and 100 children in the city regarded as being at medium to high risk of being exploited by groomers.

Following covert work between July 2013 and March this year, the authorities issued warnings to 26 individuals identified as being involved in potentially exploiting youngsters.

CEO of the Institute Javed Bashir said: "The Professional Muslims Institute has been shocked and horrified from recent cases and believe that we have a duty to protect and safeguard our young people.

"The purpose of the PMI seminar is to bring that debate into an open forum with representatives from across the social spectrum, where the underlying causes and issues could be discussed, challenged and educate us all of what the facts actually are on child sexual grooming and how our responsibility is first and foremost to recognise those victims of abuse and to seek help.

"Sexual grooming and child abuse afflicts all sections of society and is perpetrated by people of all ethnic groups. But we as Muslims and British citizens need to play our part in protecting children and young people from such acts.

"Our intention is first and foremost to make Bradford a better place for all our children and keep them safe from perpetrators of gang-led crimes of which sexual grooming abuse.

"The event is the start of a debate in which we seek to work with others including parents, faith groups, local organisations and the business community to eradicate the practice from all communities," he said.

Those who will be speaking at the conference, to be held from 6pm on Thursday at the Carlisle Business Centre, include Nazir Afzal from the Crown Prosecution Service, Shaista Gohir, of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, Imam Qari Asim from Leeds Makkah Mosque, novelist Qaisra Shahraz, Ansar Ali of Together Against Grooming, Paul Hill, representing Bradford Safeguarding Children’s Board and Superintendent Vince Firth from West Yorkshire Police.

For booking and for more information contact Javed Bashir on 0844 443 5652