Greater Manchester Police is using innovative methods to tackle child exploitation

Greater Manchester Police is using innovative powers and policies to tackle child exploitation across Manchester, and this week they have secured a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order in Trafford.

In response to community concerns about an individual named Ezekiel Baddoo (15/08/1997), who was believed to be exploiting young people in the district, Greater Manchester Police worked with partners to secure a civil order to safeguard those at risk and place strict conditions on his activity.

The order will be in place for two years and if the order is breached, Baddoo will be arrested.

The civil order can be applied to individuals we believe are involved in exploitation and it places conditions on who they can contact or associate with, where they can go, and what they can post on social media.

Not only do these orders limit the ability of offenders to commit crime, but they are also an effective safeguarding method for those who are at risk of exploitation.

Detective Sergeant Kate Southern from our Child Protection Investigation Unit in Trafford said: “These orders are an effective method that we can use to safeguard vulnerable people, which complement our ongoing and relentless work to tackle offenders and exploitation across Greater Manchester.

“We know the devastating impact that child exploitation can have on victims for the rest of their lives so close working between police and partners, and using innovative ways to target offenders, is crucial to preventing and disrupting the criminal activity putting children and young people at risk.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Police, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: “This action shows that we are prepared to take all the measures available to us to tackle the criminal exploitation of vulnerable young people. Our Challenger teams are working tirelessly to come at abusers from every angle and limit their ability to use the likes of social media, in a manipulative way, to abuse others.”

If you suspect a child is being exploited, even if you’re not sure, you should report it as soon as possible.

Child criminal exploitation can be hard to detect. The criminals that commit this type of crime use are experts in manipulation. Young people may not be aware or feel like they are being exploited. 

If something is out of the ordinary for your child and you are worried about changing or unusual behaviour you can speak to someone to get advice. Trust your intuition as a parent or carer, and if something appears out of the ordinary or wrong then speak to a professional.

You can contact GMP by calling 101, or by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

Always dial 999 in an emergency.

For more information about our Programme Challenger, please visit home (programmechallenger.co.uk)