Agenda item

Child Sexual Exploitation - Children Who Go Missing

Minutes:

The Chair introduced Lisa Wood, Operations Manager (First Contact) of the Children and Young People’s Service.  The Panel briefly discussed the recent media coverage of a victim of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and her efforts to prevent the man who raped her from playing a role in her son’s life.  Councillor Grant commented that Panel members may wish to read the victim’s full story which is available to buy in a book entitled ‘Just a Child’ by Sammy Woodhouse.  The Operations Manager presented the Child Sexual Exploitation report and delivered a presentation which provided background information on the partnership work taking place to tackle child sexual exploitation (CSE) and children who go missing and provided information on ERASE (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes). 

 

The Operations Manager agreed to circulate a link to ‘Kayleigh’s Love Story’ which was referred to in the presentation.

 

Referring to the number of young people known to be exploited which is approximately 31, the Chair asked whether this figure is a true representation of the size of the problem. The Operations Manager clarified that although there are 31 young people identified as being exploited, there are a further 80-120 young people who are considered to be at risk of exploitation. 

 

Councillor Darkes referred to work being done to promote safety and awareness and asked if the work includes engagement with faith and ethnic groups.  The Operations Manager responded that the service has undertaken targeted work with scouts, football clubs and Durham County Cricket Club and more work will be done to engage with faith and minority groups.

 

Councillor Charlton asked how quickly young people are fast-tracked to the Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS).  The Operations Manager replied that weekly clinics are held and a CAMHS consultant is available as part of the therapeutic social work team.

 

In a response to a question from Councillor Grant who asked if the ERASE service is available to those in private children’s homes, the Operations Manager confirmed this is the case.  Councillor Grant then referred to s.25 orders commenting that these orders seem to penalise those being exploited as they are accommodated for their own safety, often miles away from home, whilst the perpetrators remain free.

 

The Manager of Aycliffe Secure Centre commented that for some young people, the fact that they are accommodated through no wrong-doing of their own is an issue, however, they often acknowledge that this is the first time they have felt safe in a long time and it is only within this safe environment that they are able to open-up about their experiences and receive the help they require. 

 

Councillor McKeon asked for information on what resources are available to assist parents to keep their children safe from exploitation.  The Head of Children’s Social Care informed the Panel that work is carried out with schools, including providing information to primary schools. The Head of the Virtual School added that many schools organise e-safety sessions for parents after school hours, however take-up can be disappointingly low.  Councillor McKeon asked if there are any on-line resources that members could refer to. The Operations Manager confirmed that information is available on the ERASE website.  The following websites were suggested by the Head of the Virtual School:

 

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

http://www.connectsafely.org/

http://www.wolsinghamschool.net/online-safety/35876.html

 

Councillor McKeon then referred to reports of anti-social behaviour by young people at Durham Bus Station and asked if this is being addressed.  Councillor Simmons informed the Panel that Durham City Youth Project has an office behind the Methodist Church on North Road and it is hoped that the project can engage with these young people to help alleviate the problem. 

 

Councillor Jewell asked whether individual perpetrators can be identified.  The Operations Manager explained that it is very difficult to identify individuals as organised criminal gangs can be involved and the technology used by perpetrators can be very advanced.  Young people who may be accessing safe websites are often taken to the ‘dark web’ unwittingly through a series of ‘doors’. 

 

Councillor Grant referred to the 16 young people who are currently considered high risk and asked where they are located in the county.  The Operations Manager clarified that these young people are spread throughout the county rather than in one particular location. The Operations Manager further clarified that although the figure for the number of young people considered to be at risk looks to have decreased over the past year, this is due to new methods of investigation which can now identify those who are genuinely at risk as opposed to those who are merely carrying out normal teenage behaviour. 

 

Resolved

 

That the report and presentation be noted. 

 

Supporting documents: