Operation Vigilant continues to disrupt child exploitation activities across Rochdale

Operation Vigilant – the multi-agency response to child exploitation run by the Sunrise Complex Safeguarding Team based at Rochdale police station – was set up in the summer of last year and acts on intelligence received from local residents who use GMP’s 101 phone service.

With a shared ethos of ‘Never Again’, child exploitation and protection remains a priority for the team, which consists of GMP officers, children’s services, youth workers, social workers, health professionals, housing officers and those working in public protection services.

The team - which is nationally recognised as a model of best practice and has helped to detect, prevent, disrupt and prosecute significant numbers of recent and non-recent CSE offenders over several years - was recently recognised by an Ofsted inspection as ‘having good practice and systems in place to identify and investigate children at risk’.

They are responsible for assessing received intelligence every 24 hours and, as a monthly neighbourhood policing operation, seek to disrupt individuals who are looking to exploit children. In the last 12 months, the Sunrise Team has dealt with 121 cases that they have successfully disrupted.

A lot of this intelligence refers to local ‘hotspot’ premises where young people congregate and receive free food, alcohol, vapes and drugs. Thanks to intelligence recently received, during the latest Op Vigilant day of action on Thursday last week, a number of illegal vapes were seized and 24 nitrous oxide cannisters will not be making the way onto the streets of Rochdale.

contraband seized during Op Vigliant

Since 2012, the Sunrise Team have seen over 200 years of jail sentences handed down to offenders and in 2017, it connected with Greater Manchester Police's local organised crime team and has been used as a model across Greater Manchester and beyond.

The Sunrise Team were also named best 'Public Sector Team' at the Children and Young People Now Awards, showcasing the very best work with children, young people and families nationally.

Chief Superintendent Nicky Porter, who is the District Commander in Rochdale said: “We are absolutely committed in Rochdale to disrupt local exploitation of children, identify those who are responsible and bring them to justice.

“All of the response and neighbourhood officers have taken part in a number of awareness sessions, delivered by senior leaders and multi-agency managers, including trauma-informed response, safeguarding, professional curiosity, intelligence and evidence gathering and enforcement.

“This enables our officers to take a proactive approach of targeting individuals and groups committing both CSE and CCE offences. It also ensures that professional standards and expectations when engaging with young people, whilst maintaining trust and confidence.”

The excellent work to combat child exploitation in Rochdale continues with regular warrants being executed and arrests being made. 

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “We continue to provide specialist support to the victims of child exploitation as we work tirelessly to identify, charge and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“At the heart of this is our ongoing joint working with partners to ensure that we share our collective powers to protect children and disrupt offenders”.

Could you spot a child who is at risk of CSE or CCE?

Spot the signs of child exploitation: changes in behaviour; not coming home when they say they will or going missing; changes in appearance; reluctant to talk about friends/relationships and becoming secretive; struggling to engage in school; overly protective of their messages/social media; having more than one phone; accompanied by individuals older than them; concerns surrounding the use of alcohol or drugs; sudden changes/fear of people/friends; unexplained gifts or money; sexual discussions/language which is not usual; evidence of sexual images being shared (by themselves or by others)

If something doesn’t feel right – report it.

Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or by dialling 101. You can also share information anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email [email protected]

- Survivors Manchester provides specialist trauma informed support to male victims in Greater Manchester who have experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual exploitation. Call 0161 236 2182.