There can be few more heartbreaking crimes than those which deliberately brutally rob children of their childhood and their innocence.

The charity Barnardo's has been carrying out a series of research projects in West Yorkshire which reveals the shocking level of sexual exploitation of children.

Much good work is already being done by many agencies in the area to either prevent abuse taking place or to pick up the pieces when prevention is impossible.

The Barnardo's study found that there is a strong link between children going missing and later turning up as the victims of exploitation, in many cases groomed for prostitution.

Specific projects to target this have been set up in Bradford, and there are established initiatives which help those who have been dragged into the murky and often dangerous world of prostitution.

But as Barnardo's point out, these measures do not happen miraculously. A lot of hard work goes into keeping children safe and money is needed to continue these schemes.

If the Government is serious about prioritising protection and prevention of abuse, then it needs to put its money where its mouth is and put the investment in to make these projects work.

There seems to be no end of people who are willing to pay to abuse young people. It is time their dirty money was matched by state funding to end this foul trade.