Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Young People and Families which provided an outline of the learning from Rotherham and other child sexual exploitation reviews which had taken place since the publication of the Professor Jay report. Information was provided as to the actions that had been and are taking place in Sefton to address the national lessons learned and to safeguard children and young people in Sefton from child sexual exploitation.

The report included the following appendices:

Appendix 1 – Pan- Merseyside Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Strategy 2014-2017

Appendix 2 - Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) CSE Strategy on a Page

Appendix 3 - LSCB Governance Structure

Appendix 4 - LSCB CSE Partnership Pathway

It was reported that the common issues and reasons why young people can be vulnerable to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) can be due to a number of factors including a young person’s low self-esteem and a poor self-image.

It was further reported that vulnerabilities are identified and targeted by the abuser, whether the young person is living with their family, looked after, away from home or they have run away.

It was also reported that there are no stereotypical victims of CSE and that males and females can be victims.

The following warning signs were reported as possible indications that a child could be being exploited:

·         Regularly missing from home or school and staying out all night.

·         Change in behaviour – becoming aggressive and disruptive or quiet and withdrawn.

·         Unexplained gifts or new possessions such as clothes, jewellery, mobile phones or money that can’t be accounted for.

·         Increase in mobile phone usage or secretive use.

·         A significantly older “boyfriend” or “friend” or lots of new friends.

·         Spending excessive amounts of time online or on their mobile becoming increasing secretive or defensive about this activity.

·         Sudden involvement in criminal behaviour or increased offending.

·         Sexual health problems.

The Director of Young People and Families, Mr. Colin Pettigrew, referred to the “Listen to my Story” campaign which had been developed by Merseyside Police, Local Councils and third sector agencies throughout the Merseyside area.  Mr. Pettigrew stated that the campaign had been developed to raise awareness of CSE in our communities and to educate young people, parents/carers, teachers, health professionals and service industry workers as to the signs and vulnerabilities of CSE.

Mr. Pettigrew confirmed the following organisations involved in the “Listen to my Story” campaign:

·         Merseyside Police.

·         Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner.

·         Liverpool City Council.

·         Knowsley Council.

·         Sefton Council.

·         St. Helens Council.

·         Wirral Council.

·         Local Safeguarding Children Boards in Merseyside.

·         North West Ambulance Service.

·         Pan-Merseyside NHS Clinical Commissioning Group

·         Pan-Merseyside NHS Community Care Centres

·         Pan-Merseyside NHS Trusts

·         Local GP’s.

Mr. Pettigrew referred to the ”Listen to my Story” website as an excellent resource for everyone to access in the pledge to raise awareness of CSE.

Mr. Pettigrew stated that CSE can affect young people and families from all kinds of backgrounds regardless of social class, ethnicity or location.  He stated that it is not just something that happens in small communities or in Greater Manchester or Yorkshire.  He further reported that CSE does not just affect young girls; boys can be the subject of abuse too.  Mr. Pettigrew concluded by stating that CSE offenders are not from one particular ethnic group.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, Families and Leisure, Councillor Moncur, referred to the report and stated that it clearly outlined what Sefton, Merseyside Police and other agencies were doing in response to the reports by Alexis Jay, Ann Coffey, Louise Casey and others. Councillor Moncur emphasised strongly that Child Sexual Exploitation was everybody’s concern. 

Councillor Moncur agreed that safeguarding training should be made available to all Members.

Mr. Pettigrew referred to a briefing session that had been arranged prior to the next meeting of the Council, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 23 April 2015, for all Members of the Council in relation to CSE.   

Members raised the following questions and points of observation, responses to which were made by officers:

RESOLVED:             That

(1)       the work taking place in Sefton regarding Child Sexual Exploitation be noted; and

(2)       the Director of Young People and Families be requested to instigate and provide training to all Members of the Council in relation to safeguarding.