West Midlands Police is continuing to investigate 372 suspects over child sexual exploitation - including some involved in possible 'paedophile networks'.

Detectives are looking at suspected grooming gangs and individuals, with latest figures showing 720 children are at risk of being exploited across the region.

The force is working with all seven local authorities and charities to identify and protect possible child sexual exploitation (CSE) victims, as well as raising awareness about the issue.

Detective Inspector Julie Woods, who leads West Midlands Police’s CSE enforcement unit, said: “The primary element of any child sex exploitation investigation is the safeguarding of young victims and their on-going management…we have to protect them and keep them from the clutches of sexual predators.”

As of June 2015 there were 372 suspects under investigation − including some thought to be part of paedophile networks.

“One of the challenges is that some children we encounter don’t see themselves as victims,” added Det Insp Woods. “In cases like this we need to gain their trust, offer what support we can and, hopefully, they will eventually confide their story so we can help.

“We have invested a significant amount of force resources and training into the service we provide and there is no doubt there has been a cultural change. It is now very clear that the responsibility of tackling CSE lies with every police officer, staff member, PCSO and special constable.

“We are seeing more victims coming forward to report abuse, knowing we will take their allegations seriously and treat them sensitively and respectfully.”

The force works closely with all seven local authorities and the latest joint assessment shows that 720 children are believed to be at risk of being exploited across the region.

Any child welfare concerns encountered by police officers are fed into the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) for further enquiries and to help build up a better intelligence picture around vulnerable children and their abusers.

Det Insp Woods added: “Children can be referred to MASH via the police or social services; it could be a child who regular goes missing, truants from school, has become involved in anti-social behaviour or disclosed something to a police officer.

“Risk levels to individual children are determined and plans put in place through social services to help safeguard them. This could involve counselling, social worker visits, education support or work with charities.

“In extreme cases we could look to relocate a child out of the area and away from clutches of suspected predators, while parenting contacts could also be issued to make parents play a more responsible childcare role.”

Posed by model
Posed by model

The Birmingham Mail has long campaigned about CSE and forced West Midlands Police to release previous problem profiles of CSE offenders under the Freedom of Information Act.

One year ago we told how an internal police problem profile from 2012 had shown 75 per cent of known on-street groomers in the West Midlands were Asian, with 82 per cent of victims aged 14 to 16 being white.

Yet Birmingham City Council had played down the ethnicity link when it published its own report into CSE last November, called We Need To Get It Right.

It stated: “The high-profile cases have largely drawn explicit attention to the girls being ‘white’ and the perpetrators ‘Asian’. Our evidence has shouted out that the exploitation can happen to anybody irrespective of where you live or your family circumstances.’’

It later added... “this crime can be carried out by anyone and to shine a light on just one community or type of person puts other children at risk.’’

The same month we told how a 20-year-old Birmingham council commissioned report which had first raised the links with CSE and Asian taxi drivers had been ‘buried’ by not being fully published.

Police and locals authorities are tackling awareness through the See Me Hear Me campaign, aimed at helping parents, carers, schools and health professionals spot the warning signs in children that they are being targeted or abused.

The latest CSE offender ‘problem profile’ from June identified a number of children’s homes, hotels, plus some parks, streets and shops potentially linked to CSE offences or grooming.

Big Break Snooker Club in Digbeth

In May, West Midlands Police and partners forced the closure of Big Break snooker club in Digbeth amid concerns the venue was being used for CSE and drug taking.

Five of the club’s eight rooms were available to rent by the hour and police demanded more CCTV and tighter management was needed to ensure better monitoring of the premises before it could re-open.

The closure order was recently extended until October 28.

Inside Big Break Snooker Club
Inside Big Break Snooker Club

Det Insp Woods said: “Any establishment that ignores the signs of CSE, ignores police warnings and put children at risk will be investigated and potentially shut down.”

To report any suspicions of child sexual exploitation contact the police CSE team on the 101 number, or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.