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| Child abuse report criticises South Yorkshire Police | Child abuse report criticises South Yorkshire Police |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Children in care homes were left vulnerable to abuse because of "shortcomings" by South Yorkshire Police, a report has found. | Children in care homes were left vulnerable to abuse because of "shortcomings" by South Yorkshire Police, a report has found. |
| The HMIC investigation was carried out in May - just months before a report found 1,400 children had been sexually exploited in Rotherham. | The HMIC investigation was carried out in May - just months before a report found 1,400 children had been sexually exploited in Rotherham. |
| It also criticised South Yorkshire Police for "unnecessarily" holding children in custody overnight. | It also criticised South Yorkshire Police for "unnecessarily" holding children in custody overnight. |
| But inspectors praised recent progress made by the force. | But inspectors praised recent progress made by the force. |
| HMIC said in some cases, officers interviewed children sensitively, pursued evidence from a range of sources and made detailed searches of homes and computers. | |
| South Yorkshire Police welcomed the inspectors' recommendations and said inconsistencies highlighted by the report about the force's response to child sexual exploitation were being addressed. | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Ingrid Lee said steps being taken to address the issues included: | |
| ACC Lee said: "We've certainly got some things wrong. We need to make sure victims are supported so they have the confidence and courage to come forward." | |
| She said if the police force found evidence appropriate action had not been taken by South Yorkshire officers, it would be dealt with "properly and robustly." | |
| HMIC inspectors were concerned by an incident where police and social workers dismissed possible sexual injuries to a four-year-old girl as eczema. | |
| In another case, police failed to investigate men who had allegedly given drugs to a girl in exchange for sex. | In another case, police failed to investigate men who had allegedly given drugs to a girl in exchange for sex. |
| 'More must be done' | 'More must be done' |
| HMIC found that while some investigations were thorough, other cases of missing children resulted in little police activity and no search for suspects. | HMIC found that while some investigations were thorough, other cases of missing children resulted in little police activity and no search for suspects. |
| "We are concerned that force practice is inconsistent so not all children receive the standard of treatment they deserve," said Dru Sharpling, of the HM Inspector of Constabulary. | "We are concerned that force practice is inconsistent so not all children receive the standard of treatment they deserve," said Dru Sharpling, of the HM Inspector of Constabulary. |
| Children in care were found to be particularly vulnerable. One 13-year-old girl was found, with condoms, at the home of a sex offender. | Children in care were found to be particularly vulnerable. One 13-year-old girl was found, with condoms, at the home of a sex offender. |
| There was no record of social services or her parents being notified, or of any inquiries about the man at whose home she was found, the report said. | |
| Children in care were sometimes found to have breached bail and were placed in custody, often "unnecessarily", investigators found. | Children in care were sometimes found to have breached bail and were placed in custody, often "unnecessarily", investigators found. |
| Mr Sharpling said: "More must be done to improve the care of children in custody." | Mr Sharpling said: "More must be done to improve the care of children in custody." |
| The force was "clearly prioritising child protection" and had "made some good progress", he added. | The force was "clearly prioritising child protection" and had "made some good progress", he added. |
| Christine Empson, divisional manager for Victim Support in South Yorkshire, said children in Rotherham who were sexually exploited were "badly let down for a long time". | |
| "Improvements have been made to the extent that police in Rotherham were not singled out in this inspection. | |
| "But clearly more needs to be done across the county, and the country, to make sure the same mistakes are never repeated," she said. |