Contact the Telegraph
Send us your news tips, photos and videos Text LT and your message to 80360 or click here for more ways to contact us »
Abuse fight must go on
11:48am Wednesday 12th March 2008
THE Lancashire Telegraph's Keep Them Safe campaign has secured another victory.
Yesterday, a multi-agency group was launched to tackle the problem of older men targeting girls for sex.
It was the latest success since the campaign's launch in July 2006.
The special Telegraph investigation revealed a growing number of girls were going missing from care or home regularly and being showered with gifts and attention before being forced to perform sex acts with up to 10 men a night.
Our findings helped to kick-start the authorities into action, with the police becoming the first to step up their efforts.
Some 17 months later, the Government announced an inquiry into the problem, which is still ongoing.
And now a multi-agency group, known as Engage, will bring together a host of organisations, such as the police, borough council, alcohol charity Lifeline, young people's advisory group Brook and the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board.
Day to day it will be made up of two police officers, a drugs worker, sexual health adviser and two social workers.
What it means is that the vulnerable girls being exploited will get more help, while more focus will be put on tracking down the offenders to bring them before the courts.
This is fantastic news. The authorities now need to ensure this issue never slips off the agenda.
With a continued focus, we can beat the abusers.
Your Say YourTelegraph
simplysimon, burnley says...
5:09pm Wed 12 Mar 08
Obviously I commend your efforts. However, let us be REAL just for a moment.
Social workers have been exploiting and abusing children in care homes since care homes were invented. The whole stupid system of social care for children needs an urgent reform and total overhaul from the very catholic top to the rock bottom.
Most Predators in my opinion are actually working within the system. A system that fails to listen to the cries of children and puts the reputation and wealth creation requirements of the social institution at the top of it's agenda. Often BEFORE and to the detrement of the Children.
One Hostel I know is getting 245.00 Per week for putting young girls in little more than a bed-sit.
Not content with the 245.00 per week.
The girl has to pay £5 from her £40 benefit money towards the cost of electric.
Believe it or not this is a Methodist Run Charity. Housing about 12 homeless and impoverished and vulnerable teenage girls.
3000 per week two keep a couple of social workers on duty and a care-taker.
Your sayYourTelegraph
Register for a FREE Lancashire Telegraph account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.
Please register now or sign in to continue.
In this section
- Nelson school worker suspended over claims she punched parent
- Blackburn teacher's riots drama
- Duo rescue neighbour from Haslingden house fire
- Burnley schoolboy Josh makes goalscoring return
- Blackburn man starts his own wind farm
- Accrington boy, 3, battles leukaemia
- Rain doesn't stop Blackburn celebration
- Darwen scooter club's big push for paralysed girl
- Burnley primary school praised by inspectors
- 'Albino' bird lands in Trawden
What's On Live Travel YourTelegraph
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
simplysimon, burnley says...
5:19pm Wed 12 Mar 08
most of their efforts seem to be spent on going from one appointment to the next appointment. With little consideration for the young Individuals wishes.