The evil blight of child sexual exploitation is sadly now casting it’s shadow over primary school children in the Bradford district.

The revelation that 23 children under the age of 12 have been referred to the area’s child sexual exploitation hub will shock – if, sadly, not surprise – many.

And it has led to Bradford Council taking steps to introduce a programme to get safety messages over the dangers of child grooming to older children at every primary school.

While it may seem that this is going to lead to a loss of innocence at far too young an age, the fact is the groomers are all-too-real, and our children need to be protected from them.

If opening children’s eyes to the dangers of predators helps make them aware of the dangers they face from them, then it is better for them to be made aware earlier rather than later, however disturbing it may seem.

Although only a minority of victims are under-age, authorities fear that more and more younger children are being targeted, and it is thought carefully considered and well-thought out programmes will help them to stay safe.

Clearly, any work to make primary school children aware of the dangers of sexual exploitation needs to be handled very sensitively and very responsibly.

It is a sad fact of life though that there are evil predators out there all too willing to prey on the young and vulnerable, and the only real way of preventing this is through awareness among the children.

If exposing them at such a young age to the harsh and cruel realities of life is the price we have to pay to help try and protect them, then so be it.