Child sexual exploitation is the 'social norm' claims report

A critical report into child sexual exploitation in Greater Manchester claims it's become a 'social norm' in some areas.

Stockport MP Ann Coffey produced the report in the wake of the Rochdale grooming scandal. It concludes there is a culture of blaming children for being abused and agencies need to work closely to tackle the problem. There are also calls in the report called 'Real Voices' for child sexual exploitation to be declared a public health priority like alcohol or drugs.

Ms Coffey recommends a radical new approach to tackling CSE to be led by young people, which recognises that the police, justice system and children’s services alone cannot succeed in protecting children, especially at a time of deep spending cuts.

She expressed concern that the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that one victim wore cropped tops and that another had been described as a ‘slag’ by her father in cases that were declared “No Further Action”.

The independent Coffey Report was commissioned by Tony Lloyd, the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, to see what haschanged since the Rochdale grooming case in 2012 and what more needs to be done.