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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Major investigation into sexual exploitation of young people in care | Major investigation into sexual exploitation of young people in care |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police have begun a major investigation into the sexual exploitation of children and young people who have gone missing from care in Northern Ireland. | Police have begun a major investigation into the sexual exploitation of children and young people who have gone missing from care in Northern Ireland. |
| The health minister has said the abuse was on a scale not seen before in NI and compared it to recent high-profile court cases in Rochdale and Oxford. | The health minister has said the abuse was on a scale not seen before in NI and compared it to recent high-profile court cases in Rochdale and Oxford. |
| The police have identified a group of 22 young people "who may be at risk". | The police have identified a group of 22 young people "who may be at risk". |
| It follows a PSNI review of cases where young people have gone missing from the care system over the last 18 months. | |
| 'Increasingly concerned' | 'Increasingly concerned' |
| It is believed that groups of older men have targeted vulnerable young people in order to sexually exploit them. | It is believed that groups of older men have targeted vulnerable young people in order to sexually exploit them. |
| The abuse is thought to have taken place outside care homes. | The abuse is thought to have taken place outside care homes. |
| The police would not reveal details of individual cases, but in a statement, they said officers had become "increasingly concerned about the issue of child sexual exploitation following an internal review. | The police would not reveal details of individual cases, but in a statement, they said officers had become "increasingly concerned about the issue of child sexual exploitation following an internal review. |
| "As part of this review, we have identified a group of 22 young people who may be at risk from child sexual exploitation and are seeking to identify those who may have committed crimes against them." | "As part of this review, we have identified a group of 22 young people who may be at risk from child sexual exploitation and are seeking to identify those who may have committed crimes against them." |
| It is believed social services staff are working with the police on the investigation, and the children's charity Barnardo's will support them. | It is believed social services staff are working with the police on the investigation, and the children's charity Barnardo's will support them. |
| The police have said they want to raise awareness of the issue to identify any young person who may be at risk, and ensure they are protected. | The police have said they want to raise awareness of the issue to identify any young person who may be at risk, and ensure they are protected. |
| Stormont meeting | Stormont meeting |
| They have asked for victims of child exploitation or anyone who has concerns about a young person at risk to come forward. | They have asked for victims of child exploitation or anyone who has concerns about a young person at risk to come forward. |
| The abuse investigation is due to be discussed at Stormont on Monday, in a joint meeting of the assembly's health and justice committees. | The abuse investigation is due to be discussed at Stormont on Monday, in a joint meeting of the assembly's health and justice committees. |
| Health Minister Edwin Poots and Justice Minister David Ford are due to attend the meeting which was called by the justice committee chairman, Paul Givan. | Health Minister Edwin Poots and Justice Minister David Ford are due to attend the meeting which was called by the justice committee chairman, Paul Givan. |
| Mr Givan described the reports of child sexual exploitation as "gravely disturbing". | Mr Givan described the reports of child sexual exploitation as "gravely disturbing". |
| "The horrors of these crimes leave us only to pray for the victims and work towards ensuring the perpetrators are brought to justice. | "The horrors of these crimes leave us only to pray for the victims and work towards ensuring the perpetrators are brought to justice. |
| "The public will be deeply concerned at this development and need to hear from the relevant authorities as to what has happened," the DUP MLA added. | "The public will be deeply concerned at this development and need to hear from the relevant authorities as to what has happened," the DUP MLA added. |
| Mr Givan said the meeting would provide "an opportunity to probe what actions are being taken to investigate and bring to justice those responsible". | Mr Givan said the meeting would provide "an opportunity to probe what actions are being taken to investigate and bring to justice those responsible". |