Police given 'harrowing' training to better understand child exploitation

Nearly 1,000 West Midlands Police inspectors and sergeants attended 'theatre-based' learning opportunities taking them to the heart of the issues throughout this year, with those who received the training describing it as 'harrowing' and 'impactive'.

In recent months the training has been expanded to cover all response officers who have to be first on the scene at incidents where 'hidden crimes' such as child sexual exploitation, child abuse and domestic violence may be happening.

Superintendent Keith Fraser, from Wolverhampton Police, said: "Child sexual exploitation affects all communities and it remains a top priority for us - nothing is more important in policing than protecting vulnerable people.

"Thanks to a lot of work carried out over the last year, we are in a much better position to tackle this issue.

"There is clearly more to do which includes continuing to raise awareness amongst the public and, just as importantly, our own staff to ensure we as a police force are in the best possible position to be able to identify and support victims."

The training is part of Operation Sentinel, a partnership between West Midlands Police and community members aimed at protecting vulnerable people.

University students and academics recently met up with police force representatives to discuss the best way to tackle hidden crimes.

Steve Neville-Wu, Senior lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing and a Counselling Psychotherapist, has recently been working with West Midlands Police in Wolverhampton.

He has experience working with both vulnerable adults and children and is committed to working with external partners to reduce vulnerability.

Steve said: "The aim is to bring together partners from across the community to jointly identify and develop an action plan with regards to the continuous improvement in reducing vulnerabilities within the identified key areas."

Superintendent Fraser said: "Through the engagement day, we hope to harness the knowledge, experience and opinions of our local communities and partners so we can drive forward Sentinel together."

Widespread local and national media coverage of these issues continues following some recent high-profile cases, while Operation Sentinel will continue to run over the next three months.

A regional campaign called See Me Hear Me launched in June this year and has seen all agencies responsible for tackling child sexual exploitation working to common standards of reporting and investigation.