Vulnerable Telford girls 'still at risk of abuse'

A new report says that there is difficulty in understanding the scale of the problem in the borough.

Three years to the day since the full scope of Operation Chalice became apparent, experts have warned there is much work to do before children can be safe from abuse.

Today agencies working with young people vowed to do more to support victims and make children aware of the problem.

A new review of working against child sexual exploitation has been released by Telford & Wrekin Council.

Three years after several men were jailed in the Operation Chalice operation against a child prostitution ring, experts insist organisations across the borough are "working well together" to tackle known issues of child sexual exploitation.

But it has made a number of recommendations on how agencies can do more to identify cases and offer better support to victims

The report said: "While we did not identify any systemic failings or denial that child sexual exploitation is a serious problem we have heard that that some victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and their parents have not received the support they needed.

"We were concerned that nearly half of the victims and survivors who responded to the online questionnaire had not spoken to any local services or organisations about the exploitation they had experienced.

"The depth and scale of this review has meant that it has taken 18 months to complete. During this time a number of national inquiries and reports into CSE have been published which highlight that this is a developing area of work.

"The committee hopes that this report will be seen in the context of this learning process."

In January, figures released by the Home Office showed Telford had the highest rate of sex crimes against children in England and Wales.

That can, in part, be down to increased reporting because of the success of Operation Chalice case.

Brothers Ahdel Ali, 28, and Mubarek Ali, 32, both of Regent Street, Wellington, were the main characters involved in the ring investigated by Chalice. Both made subjects of lifelong sexual offences prevention orders.

Ahdel Ali was given a 26-year extended sentence – 18 years' immediate custody with an additional eight-year period on licence after release. Mubarek Ali was given 22 years, 14 years' immediate custody and eight years on licence, for seven offences – four of controlling child prostitution, causing child prostitution and two offences of trafficking in the UK for the purpose of prostitution, involving two of the victims.

The trial at Worcester Crown Court in 2012 heard the two men sexually abused, trafficked, prostituted or tried to prostitute four Telford teenagers, who were as young as 13. Some of the victims were in care or under the supervision of social services.

They were just two of seven men who were jailed as part of the case for a string of crimes.

It is hoped today's 101-page report will help agencies across the borough prevent similar crimes from happening in the future and ensure that victims are properly cared for.

Councillor Kevin Guy, chairman of Telford & Wrekin Council's children and young people's scrutiny committee, which put together the report, paid tribute to the victims who had contributed to the report.

He said: "I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this work but I particularly want to thank the victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and their families who gave us their views.

"This has been the most profoundly moving and inspiring part of this review – that people who have experienced or seen their children become a victim of horrific abuse have the courage to tell us what they think about the support and protection they received and how services can be improved.

"We have learned that we all have a role in tackling child sexual exploitation, as it is everyone's business. We have concluded that based on the evidence presented to us, organisations in Telford and Wrekin are working well together to respond to known cases of child sexual exploitation.

"The review's recommendations make a range of suggestions about how organisations can improve the way they work but also how we all have a responsibility to stop child sexual exploitation happening in the first place.

"Our recommendations have been based on the information we heard over this long diligent period of putting the review together. I am aware that some services have changed while we have been producing the review.

"The scrutiny committee cannot change how organisations work. Our role is to make recommendations that will be considered by the decision makers in the different organisations."

Councillor Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "I welcome the publication of the review and would like to both thank and congratulate everyone involved in putting together a very comprehensive piece of work.

"I have noted the recommendations and will be presenting a formal response, which will also be agreed by partner organisations on the Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Children Board, at a cabinet meeting later in the year.

"In the meantime, I would like to assure our residents that the safety and welfare of our children and young people is our top priority and we are continually reviewing our procedures and systems to ensure they receive maximum support and protection."

The review will next be discussed at Telford & Wrekin Council's children and young people scrutiny committee at Madeley Academy on Monday at 6pm.