Glasgow report 97 children at risk of sex exploitation
A total of 97 children in Glasgow have been identified as being victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE) or are at risk according to a new council report.
The number was highlighted as the city council’s social work department examined current practices in the wake of the Jay report on CSE in Rotherham, where an estimated 1400 potential vicitms in were abused between 1997 and 2013.
The report stated: “It is difficult to accurately estimate the number of young people subject to child sexual exploitation in Glasgow although the current operation with the police identified 97 children and young people who potentially were victims of/or at risk of child sexual exploitation.
“Of this group, the current police operation focused on 39, with a number of those screened out, already known to services and supported. The screening was for the purpose of the investigation, and all of the young people’s circumstances explored on a multi-agency basis.”
The development of an action plan to address CSE in the city has now been agreed. It will focus on four areas: awareness-raising; investigation; interventions; and process and procedures.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “As the committee report indicates, there have been a number of instances of child sexual exploitation in Glasgow.
“Our child protection staff are very aware of the issues surrounding child exploitation and have a strong understanding of the indicators that point towards a child being abused.
“The council’s child protection team works closely with the police and other partners through the child protection committee to respond to any allegations of young people being exploited for sexual purposes.
“The child protection team’s primary focus is to protect the child while police work to bring offenders to justice.
“Partners within the child protection committee structure do work closely together and information is regularly and routinely shared to ensure a robust response for those at risk of harm of sexual exploitation.”
The report will now go to the Children and Families Policy Development Committee today.
