IT is everybody's responsibility to tackle child sexual exploitation to build on the success of East Lancashire's 'Engage' team in tackling 'gang grooming' was the message of a major conference yesterday.

Lancashire's crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw, senior police officers and North-West Crown Prosecution boss Nazir Afzal all stressed the importance of public awareness in fighting the problem.

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Clitheroe film maker Graham Kay, who is doing his bit by taking the message to young people through theatre, also attended the gathering of 160 delegates at the Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors.

Mr Afzal praised the Lancashire Telegraph's 'Keep Them Safe' campaign and the creation of the Engage team, the first full multi-agency partnership in the country to tackle issue, in 2006.

He told the conference: "As I said in the Lancashire Telegraph today, we must not walk on by.

"Child sexual abuse is an issue for everyone, not just the police. We must get the young people on board.

Mr Kay, 41, with the North-West's 'All Things Considered Theatre Company', said: "We feel there is a gap in taking this important issue creatively to schools and young people.

"Theatre tells a story and we can tell them this story does not always end well in a dramatic fashion."

Mr Grunshaw told the audience: "This conference sends a very clear message that together we will tackle this issue in Lancashire.

"From the grooming of vulnerable young people to the threats posed by the internet, we have come together as a society to respond to child sexual exploitation and we will do everything we can to reduce this evil infecting our society.

"We will work collaboratively to bring about a shift in attitudes and awareness."

He highlighted the College of Police's February praise of Engage's 'superb response' as the 'benchmark' for other police forces.

In an interview, he praised the Lancashire Telegraph campaign and promised cash and staff for Engage and its two sister teams was ring fenced as child sexual exploitation was top priority.

Detective Superintendent Sue Cawley, head of Lancashire Police's Public Protection Unit, echoed his praise of the paper's role.

She warned: "These predators are clever and manipulative and will use any avenue to get access to children.

"It is the responsibility of everybody to tackle this issue. As Nazir Afzal says, no-one can walk on by the sexual abuse of children and think it's up to someone else."