MP says “more to be done” to tackle CSE in Rotherham

The Wentworth and Dearne representative, speaking a year on from the publication of Prof Alexis Jay’s shock report, said the inquiry’s findings “sent shockwaves through towns and cities right across the country and they have taken a hard look at their own practices”.

He added: “In Rotherham, there has been progress but there is still more to be done.

“The council have put significant extra support in place for victims.

“The police have beefed up the number of officers investigating CSE, are treating it seriously and at long last have started to bring some of the perpetrators to justice.

“They need to continue this work to command the confidence of victims and their families that abusers will be put away for their crimes.”

Mr Healey called for extra support from the Government, with cuts to council and police budgets remaining “a big concern”.

“I want us to turn round the poor practices and attitudes that made this terrible abuse possible so that, in future, people will look to our town as a model of how this crime and exploitation needs to be tackled,” he said.

See Friday’s Advertiser for a special report on the impact of the Jay Report a year on.