GMP and MCC lead the way in tackling child sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Manchester City Council (MCC) are continuing to lead the way in fighting, preventing, and reducing child sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester.

Having pioneered the establishment of the Complex Safeguarding Hub in 2018, which has now been replicated by all 10 districts in Greater Manchester, the partnership is now developing an input on victim assessments to share learnings and best practice with colleagues across the region.

The Complex Safeguarding Hub was opened in Greenheys Police Station in October 2018. Built on the firm foundations laid by Project Phoenix from 2012 onwards, it co-locates Greater Manchester Police, Manchester City Council, local health services and other key partners to enable the agencies to work in an effective partnership and identify, engage with, and safeguard young people who are at risk of exploitation whilst stopping offenders in their tracks.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Harris, who oversees Manchester Complex Safeguarding Hub, said: “We are proud of the progress the partnership has made in preventing and responding to child sexual exploitation since the formation of Project Phoenix in 2012. The assurance review, commissioned in 2017 and published in 2019, only reiterated the importance of the work we had already started and helped us make further improvements to ensure that we are keeping vulnerable young people safe and relentlessly pursuing those who intend to harm them.

"Leading the way is a great position to be in and it is a privilege to be able to help colleagues across Greater Manchester implement best practice to ensure the delivery of consistent, quality service.”

Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People for Manchester City Council, said: “I’ve seen for myself for the work that goes on at the Complex Safeguarding Hub and the dedication of all the professionals based there. Whether they are employed by the council, the police, the NHS or the Children’s Society they work as one team to protect and support the city’s most at-risk children from exploitation.   

“The joint approach to tackling the sexual and criminal exploitation of children has been significantly strengthened in recent years. The crucial role of the Complex Safeguarding Hub in identifying and addressing issues has been recognised in independent inspections, including our most recent full Ofsted inspection which rated our children’s services as a whole Good.  

“As long as there are bad people out there seeking to groom children there will be risk. But what the Hub gives us is an intensive focus on identifying the children at risk of exploitation and putting measures in place to protect them, support their families and disrupt and pursue offenders.”  

Paul Marshall, Strategic Director of Children’s and Education Services for Manchester City Council, said: “I’m always impressed by the commitment and caring of the people who work here.  

“The Hub enables people from different agencies to quickly share information and use this to build a detailed picture about children who are facing or experiencing exploitation. That way we can ensure our collective energy is focused on disrupting those who seek to exploit children, safeguarding those children and supporting the police in their investigations to secure successful prosecutions.   

“This work relies on intelligence – proactively looking for warning signs and evidence of issues rather than relying on complaints when children might be too scared, or too effectively groomed by perpetrators, to make them. 

“At its heart is building trusted relationships with the children and young people involved to understand what is happening, reduce or eliminate the risks they face, help their families to support them and wherever possible bring offenders to justice. It’s a painstaking and resource-intensive process but one that can make a huge positive difference to these children’s lives.” 

If you are concerned about a child’s welfare or have any information regarding any activities being carried out in Manchester that are worrying to you, contact Greater Manchester Police via gmp.police.uk or by dialling 101. You can also share information anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.

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.