The policing inspectorate, HMICFRS, has published a report into
child protection.
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, Chief
Constable , said:
“We are alive to many of the issues raised in this report and
will take time to go through and consider the recommendations.
Policing will always explore any steps we can take to protect our
children better and as the report says we are already committing
increasing levels of resources to this.
“The report rightly recognises the hard work and dedication of
police officers to keep children safe. However, it also correctly
points out that the demands on the police service have increased
at a time when our resources have fallen. We are dealing with a
perfect storm of increased reports of non-recent abuse, ever
growing online offences and the challenges of familial abuse,
which is still our biggest demand.
“This pressure on the service means that on too many occasions we
are reacting to reports of abuse and exploitation rather than
getting ahead of the threat through early intervention.
“However, placing the responsibility for tackling the
exploitation of children at the door of policing alone will solve
nothing. We need the government to take a lead and every part of
the system, in particular health, Public Health and education, to
play their part.”
