South Yorkshire Police apologise over CSE report

SOUTH Yorkshire Police apologised to child sexual exploitation victims this week — and said it was currently working on historic investigations into the crime.

Rotherham district commander for Rotherham, Chief Supt Jason Harwin, said the force was offering “an unreserved apology”, adding: “We fully acknowledge our previous failings.”

He said they had “completely overhauled the way in which we deal with CSE” and prosecuted or charged 15 people with CSE-related offences in the past year.

Chief Supt Harwin added: “In Rotherham, we are currently dealing with 32 live investigations into CSE and developing a further 22 referrals where there are concerns around a child potentially being exploited.

“Our recent cases have involved both female and male offenders and people from a wide range of different backgrounds including British, Pakistani and Roma Slovak.  

“We will go wherever the evidence takes us.

“We are currently conducting a number of historic investigations which relate to the period covered by the report.

“They are complex, involving multiple suspects and multiple victims and at this stage it would be inappropriate to give further detail about these inquiries.

“I urge anyone who is aware of a young person being sexually exploited to get in touch so that we can protect those at risk.”

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