No let-up in the war on child abusers

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd with Chief Superintendent Catherine Hankinson.

Combating the sexual exploitation of young people is a police priority, says Police Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd visited Oldham police station to meet the team behind Operation Messenger, which since 2007 has worked to clamp down on sexual abuse and grooming.

Messenger was set up in Oldham in 2007 to help children potentially at risk from abuse.

Mr Lloyd praised the project which is now in operation across other parts of the Manchester region.

“Messenger was one of the great early examples of how to deal with sexual exploitation of young people,” said Mr Lloyd.

“Dealing with exploitation was something that at first went wrong. But now a great system is in place to tackle it.

“No-one can guarantee a young person won’t be exploited or abused, but when local services are working systematically together, like the Oldham Police, council and local social services, they can find a solution when it happens. It’s about making sure people use the information available to them.

“Across Greater Manchester, more police work on the issue of sexual exploitation than on gang crime; it is one of our biggest priorities.”

Mr. Lloyd also met Oldham Organised Crime Unit staff and Oldham police chief Chief Supt Catherine Hankinson..