Publication of the Thematic Review into CSE in Bradford Tue 27 Jul 2021

The purpose of the review is to assess whether there are themes and patterns to this abuse which the partnership can learn from, and whether there are issues around abuse that we are not aware of. 

The review was commissioned in April 2019 and has been carried out independently by Clare Hyde MBE. Its publication was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The review looks at CSE cases over two decades since 2001. It was commissioned following the sentencing of nine men in 2019 to a total of 132 years’ and 8 months’ imprisonment following sexual exploitation of a child who had been in the care of the Council.  The victim of those crimes showed considerable courage in coming forward and speaking about her experiences as a child during the years between 2006 and 2011.

Following the trial, a second woman who had suffered similar abuse came forward and criminal investigations have been carried out in respect of alleged sexual offences she suffered when also in the care of the local authority in the years between 2001 and 2006.

This review was commissioned to understand the experiences of these two young woman and also other victims to make sure that steps have been taken to improve the way agencies work together with children today to better protect them from exploitation. 

The review also includes more recent cases to understand the issues around current multi-agency practice. The review highlights areas of learning for all the partners who are responsible for protecting young people. But it does also acknowledge a range of positive efforts that the Council and partners have put in place over the last decade to tackle CSE, a view which was also acknowledged by Ofsted in their ILACS inspection of 2018 which said “the response to children at risk of child sexual exploitation is a strength”.

Since 2019, a new management team has been put in place in Children’s Services. This team has prioritised the improvement of the service, it is acknowledged that the improvement journey still has a way to go. The recommendations that the thematic review outlines form part of this improvement and action on all of them has already begun.

Link to Report https://saferbradford.co.uk/learning-resources/learning-reviews/