Police unite with partners to tackle child exploitation

Greater Manchester Police has joined forces with regional partners to share best practices in the ongoing battle against child exploitation.

The event, held on Thursday (12 September), which took place as part of the Greater Manchester Complex Safeguarding Strategy, brought together professionals from various sectors to strengthen efforts in identifying, safeguarding, and disrupting the exploitation of children.
 

Read more: Days of action to tackle and disrupt child sexual exploitation in the boroughPublished: 18 December 2023

The event provided multi-agency frontline professionals with essential skills. Key areas covered included early identification of exploitation, effective information sharing, safeguarding measures, and coordinated disruption of criminal networks.

The gathering is one of four planned events aimed at launching the new safeguarding strategy, with further sessions scheduled for 15 and 16 October 2024.

A wide array of topics related to exploitation were explored, including neurodiversity, trauma-informed approaches, online harms, and the role of girls in county lines drug trafficking.

Several prominent guest speakers addressed the attendees, including Kate Green, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester for safer and stronger communities, and detective superintendent Claire McGuire from the North-West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Officers from Operation Vigilant, GMP’s Child-Centred Policing team, and representatives from organisations such as Safer Internet UK, St. Giles Trust, Keyring, Manchester City Council, and the National Autistic Society also shared their insights.

A powerful presentation was delivered by representatives from "Lads Like Us," a leading group focused on supporting adults and children who have experienced trauma.

Their talk encouraged professionals to adopt a trauma-informed approach when interacting with vulnerable young people.

Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop, head of serious and organised crime at GMP said: “The event aimed to enhance collaboration across Greater Manchester in addressing child exploitation, raising awareness of the associated risks, challenging conventional approaches, and identifying best practices and opportunities for mutual learning.

“By bringing together experts who are committed to protecting children, we are developing solutions that will strengthen the collective efforts in preventing, disrupting, and prosecuting those responsible for the most heinous crimes.

“I have no doubt the learnings from the event will be disruptive to criminal networks operating both within Greater Manchester and beyond, and our work to tackle those responsible and protect those being exploited will not stop here."

Detective superintent Harrop added: “Protecting children and young people in Greater Manchester is our top priority, and the partnership work being carried out is to be commended. I thank everyone for their dedication and determination in the fight against crimes targeting children.”

He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant: “It is imperative that anyone with concerns, no matter how small, comes forward. You could make a real difference for a victim, and we all share a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Kate Green, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester for safer and stronger communities said: “Child exploitation is an abhorrent crime, and there is no place for it in society," she said. "Tackling it, keeping children safe, and bringing perpetrators to justice is a top priority for us, and we will leave no stone unturned in our relentless pursuit of this.”

“I have seen first-hand the important work our Complex Safeguarding Hub is doing for our city-region, ensuring high standards are maintained when dealing with the exploitation of children.

"It has been a great opportunity to show how frontline professionals across Greater Manchester are working together and ensuring they are equipped with best practice, research, and knowledge to better support our local communities, children, and families.”

Anyone with information related to child exploitation is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or to call GMP directly via 101. In emergencies, dial 999.