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Police 'too slow' to recognise exploitation of girls in Bristol Police 'too slow' to recognise exploitation of girls in Bristol
(about 1 hour later)
Police, health workers and a string of other professionals have been criticised for missing opportunities to intervene in the systematic sexual abuse of girls as young as 11 by men of Somali origin in Bristol.Police, health workers and a string of other professionals have been criticised for missing opportunities to intervene in the systematic sexual abuse of girls as young as 11 by men of Somali origin in Bristol.
The serious case review, which was launched after 13 men were jailed last year, found that police and other agencies were slow to recognise that the girls were being exploited.The serious case review, which was launched after 13 men were jailed last year, found that police and other agencies were slow to recognise that the girls were being exploited.
It said police officers have said they were hampered by financial cuts, pressure to close cases and a lack of training in child sexual exploitation.It said police officers have said they were hampered by financial cuts, pressure to close cases and a lack of training in child sexual exploitation.
The report, commissioned by the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board, said if professionals, including doctors, had shared information about the girls they may have been spotted as victims sooner. It concluded there were a “large number of missed opportunities to recognise that the children were at risk of significant harm”.The report, commissioned by the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board, said if professionals, including doctors, had shared information about the girls they may have been spotted as victims sooner. It concluded there were a “large number of missed opportunities to recognise that the children were at risk of significant harm”.
In addition the report said there was a “confused and confusing national policy stance on adolescent sexual activity”. On the Bristol case it said: “The early lack of joined up intelligence and professional mindset, which saw underage sexual activity rather than child sexual exploitation left children at risk for too long.”In addition the report said there was a “confused and confusing national policy stance on adolescent sexual activity”. On the Bristol case it said: “The early lack of joined up intelligence and professional mindset, which saw underage sexual activity rather than child sexual exploitation left children at risk for too long.”
It also concluded that professionals were still not grasping the way abusers used social media to groom victims and still lacked some skills to gather intelligence and disrupt perpetrators.It also concluded that professionals were still not grasping the way abusers used social media to groom victims and still lacked some skills to gather intelligence and disrupt perpetrators.
Tips passed on from some of the victims in the report included: “Stay away from Facebook” and: “If you feel someone is not safe tell someone: you are almost certainly right.” One girl called this the “Jimmy Savile feeling”.Tips passed on from some of the victims in the report included: “Stay away from Facebook” and: “If you feel someone is not safe tell someone: you are almost certainly right.” One girl called this the “Jimmy Savile feeling”.
During the course of two trials last year it was revealed how girls, some of whom were in local authority care, were groomed and passed around by their abusers – often for money – and assaulted in homes, parks and a hotel. Ten girls came forward but police said they believed there could be many more victims.During the course of two trials last year it was revealed how girls, some of whom were in local authority care, were groomed and passed around by their abusers – often for money – and assaulted in homes, parks and a hotel. Ten girls came forward but police said they believed there could be many more victims.
One of the girls was raped when she was 13 on the same night by three different men, including a stranger, and thought her life would be in danger if she went to the police.One of the girls was raped when she was 13 on the same night by three different men, including a stranger, and thought her life would be in danger if she went to the police.
Another girl was sexually exploited after a local authority outside Bristol set her up alone in a flat at the age of 16 in a deprived inner-city neighbourhood although she had been described as having the emotional development of a three-year-old.Another girl was sexually exploited after a local authority outside Bristol set her up alone in a flat at the age of 16 in a deprived inner-city neighbourhood although she had been described as having the emotional development of a three-year-old.
Within hours of arriving, she was spotted by drug dealers who set up a base in her new home and forced her to work as a prostitute. The abuse continued for months even after she told care workers about what was happening; the girl’s 14-year-old sister was subsequently raped during a visit.Within hours of arriving, she was spotted by drug dealers who set up a base in her new home and forced her to work as a prostitute. The abuse continued for months even after she told care workers about what was happening; the girl’s 14-year-old sister was subsequently raped during a visit.
Police launched an operation codenamed Brooke into the allegations around the girls in May 2013. But the report said as early as October 2011 concerns were raised by a Bristol group called Barnardo’s Against Sexual Exploitation to police and children’s social care about some of the children involved.Police launched an operation codenamed Brooke into the allegations around the girls in May 2013. But the report said as early as October 2011 concerns were raised by a Bristol group called Barnardo’s Against Sexual Exploitation to police and children’s social care about some of the children involved.
The report said: “In general professionals from all the key agencies were slow to recognise … that sexual exploitation of any of the children was taking place. They did not listen enough to the concerns of parents who were describing it and seemed to view it as consensual underage sexual activity.”The report said: “In general professionals from all the key agencies were slow to recognise … that sexual exploitation of any of the children was taking place. They did not listen enough to the concerns of parents who were describing it and seemed to view it as consensual underage sexual activity.”
It added: “In school, head teachers responded to poor attendance and difficult behaviour by excluding children, often not being notified by other professionals that the young person had just been missing and had experienced significant sexual assaults.”It added: “In school, head teachers responded to poor attendance and difficult behaviour by excluding children, often not being notified by other professionals that the young person had just been missing and had experienced significant sexual assaults.”
On the initial police response, the report said criminal investigations were ended prematurely, alleged perpetrators not interviewed or not seen in a “timely manner”. Potential sources of evidence – for example from mobile phones – was not followed up quickly enough. “The impact was twofold, no steps were taken to protect the individual victim from specified alleged abusers and other children were left at continued risk,” said the report.On the initial police response, the report said criminal investigations were ended prematurely, alleged perpetrators not interviewed or not seen in a “timely manner”. Potential sources of evidence – for example from mobile phones – was not followed up quickly enough. “The impact was twofold, no steps were taken to protect the individual victim from specified alleged abusers and other children were left at continued risk,” said the report.
Incidents highlighted included:Incidents highlighted included:
The report said police felt under pressure because of cuts. “All officers were expected to deal with a significant number of serious crimes and live investigations on a daily basis, it said. The consequence was that “less urgent” incidents “drifted”. Incidents were logged as “outraging public decency” rather than pertaining to child sexual abuse and there was no mapping of patterns and connections. One police officer said the detective inspectors’ inbox could have more than 100 crimes to review at any given time.The report said police felt under pressure because of cuts. “All officers were expected to deal with a significant number of serious crimes and live investigations on a daily basis, it said. The consequence was that “less urgent” incidents “drifted”. Incidents were logged as “outraging public decency” rather than pertaining to child sexual abuse and there was no mapping of patterns and connections. One police officer said the detective inspectors’ inbox could have more than 100 crimes to review at any given time.
On the case of the girl who was set up alone in a flat and immediately exploited by drug dealers, the report said she had told the review team that she was shocked and frightened at being placed in such an area – and hence was glad to come under what she thought of as the “protection” of her abusers. The report said the housing provider claimed the police had not briefed it about the problems in the area but the report said “basic research” should have alerted it to its unsuitability.On the case of the girl who was set up alone in a flat and immediately exploited by drug dealers, the report said she had told the review team that she was shocked and frightened at being placed in such an area – and hence was glad to come under what she thought of as the “protection” of her abusers. The report said the housing provider claimed the police had not briefed it about the problems in the area but the report said “basic research” should have alerted it to its unsuitability.
The report said victims were seen “numerous times” by doctors and sexual health providers all presenting with similar complaints of heavy bleeding, abdominal pains, urinary tract infections and needing tests for sexually transmitted diseases alongside requesting contraception, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception.The report said victims were seen “numerous times” by doctors and sexual health providers all presenting with similar complaints of heavy bleeding, abdominal pains, urinary tract infections and needing tests for sexually transmitted diseases alongside requesting contraception, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception.
One GP provided a girl with contraception when she was 13, believing she was in a consensual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. In fact he was 18. Health staff acknowledged the request for contraception should have triggered “more professional curiosity and action”. One GP told the review team: “It was bloody obvious but we never looked.”One GP provided a girl with contraception when she was 13, believing she was in a consensual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. In fact he was 18. Health staff acknowledged the request for contraception should have triggered “more professional curiosity and action”. One GP told the review team: “It was bloody obvious but we never looked.”
The report said the victims came from a range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Five of them took part in the review and among the messages they gave to professionals was: “Recognise that it is very hard to see ourselves as victims and therefore to have any insight into what help we need.”The report said the victims came from a range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Five of them took part in the review and among the messages they gave to professionals was: “Recognise that it is very hard to see ourselves as victims and therefore to have any insight into what help we need.”
Of the perpetrators, the report said many came to the UK as refugees fleeing violence. The report said the impact of their backgrounds ought to be considered. Two of them were interviewed by the review team and said they identified themselves as western and integrated in the UK.Of the perpetrators, the report said many came to the UK as refugees fleeing violence. The report said the impact of their backgrounds ought to be considered. Two of them were interviewed by the review team and said they identified themselves as western and integrated in the UK.
Among the reports conclusions were:Among the reports conclusions were:
Temporary assistant chief constable Kay Wozniak, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We’ve learnt a great deal in the last four years about child sexual exploitation and child abuse. Now we’re much better able to spot the links, join up the intelligence and, alongside our partners, see a fuller picture.”Temporary assistant chief constable Kay Wozniak, of Avon and Somerset police, said: “We’ve learnt a great deal in the last four years about child sexual exploitation and child abuse. Now we’re much better able to spot the links, join up the intelligence and, alongside our partners, see a fuller picture.”
John Readman, strategic director for people at Bristol city council, said it had already tackled many of the concerns identified. He said the voices of the victims would inform how at-risk children were dealt with in the future.John Readman, strategic director for people at Bristol city council, said it had already tackled many of the concerns identified. He said the voices of the victims would inform how at-risk children were dealt with in the future.
Responding for NHS organisations in Bristol, Dr Maria Bredow, designated doctor for safeguarding children, said: “We need to think the unthinkable, listen to a young person’s health request but look beyond it.”Responding for NHS organisations in Bristol, Dr Maria Bredow, designated doctor for safeguarding children, said: “We need to think the unthinkable, listen to a young person’s health request but look beyond it.”
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating seven officers, including an inspector and two detective sergeants, and one police staff member over how they handled allegations of child sexual exploitation and a related missing persons report in connection with Operation Brooke.
The report made it clear that life has not returned to “normal” for the victims. “For many of them continue to live chaotic, abusive and traumatic lives,” it said.
The charity Barnardo’s said it was working with between 140 and 160 victims of child sexual abuse in Bristol.