Children are being sexually exploited in West Berkshire, police warn

CHILDREN are being sexually exploited in West Berkshire.

That was the chilling warning from Detective Inspector Clare Knibbs of Thames Valley Police, who said people needed to be aware that it was “happening on their doorsteps”.

In the last nine months, from April 26 2014 to January 26 2015, five people in the district have either been charged or convicted of sexually exploiting a child.

During the same time period there were 72 new cases where someone has flagged the possible exploitation of a child.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Det. Insp Knibbs said: “Yes there are cases in West Berkshire.

“We do have young people here at the moment that we are focusing on who we are concerned are being, or have been, sexually exploited.

“I think it will shock people. Unless it is happening on people’s doorsteps they are not interested. The message we need to get across is that it is happening, even here in West Berkshire. It is a national problem and we all need to be aware of it.

“We don’t want to scaremonger people but we need them to realise that it is a problem.”

While there is not an actual crime called child sexual exploitation, it can include a number of crimes such as rape, sexual activity or drug offences.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) can take many different forms. Sometimes the victim can think they are in a seemingly ‘consensual’ relationship with an older person who takes advantage of them or a young person having sex in return for attention, gifts, alcohol or cigarettes.

It can also involve offenders grooming youngsters and using their power to sexually abuse them.

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