A specialist grooming gangs unit has helped arrest over 550 suspected child predators over the last year, according to the Home Office.
Established in April 2023, the Grooming Gangs Taskforce of specialist officers has also identified and protected over 4,000 victims.
Home Secretary, James Cleverly said: ‘Where a child is being abused, we must do everything in our power to protect them and pursue the perpetrators until they are behind bars.’
Speaking during a visit by the Home Secretary to Essex Police, Ian Critchley, NPCC National Police Lead for Child Protection and Abuse, said: ‘Since the Taskforce was launched, significant strides have been made to enhance the policing response to CSE [child sexual exploitation] investigation as well as co-ordinate best practice and guidance to further protect victims and disrupt perpetrators, through working closely with forces such as Essex.
‘Sadly, we know that CSE in many forms is still prevalent in our communities. The way we listen to, and support victims and survivors of these most abhorrent crimes is key to building on and maintaining the progress we have already made through the work of the CSE Taskforce and dedicated force teams.’
Check out: Stopping child exploitation.
