NEW proposals to criminalise and jail public officials and councillors who fail to protect children from sexual exploitation for a maximum of five years have been welcomed in East Lancashire.

Plans unveiled by Prime Minister would extend the crime of ‘wilful neglect’ to cover children’s social care and education, with jail and unlimited fines for individuals and organisations letting young people down.

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David Cameron said: “Young girls - and they are young girls - being abused over and over again on an industrial scale, being raped, being passed from one bunch of perpetrators to another bunch of perpetrators.

“And all the while this has happened with too many organisations and too many people walking on by.”

A new national helpline will assist professionals to blow the whistle on failings.

General Election candidates Kate Hollern and Bob Eastwood, who as borough council leader and former divisional police commander were involved in developing Blackburn with Darwen council’s groundbreaking multi-agency team, Engage,fighting child grooming set up in 2006 after the Lancashire Telegraph’s Keep Them Safe campaign, both backed the tough new penalties.

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson and Burnley Liberal Democrat counterpart Gordon Birtwistle gave their support.

The crackdown was announced by Mr Cameron at a summit at Downing Street as a “serious case review” revealed up to 373 children may have been targeted for sex by gangs of men in Oxfordshire in the last 16 years.

It said Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council made “many errors”.

Lancashire’s crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “I am certain that police, social workers and other professionals working with children and young people throughout the county are absolutely committed to stopping the perpetrators.

The threat of prosecution will potentially help where those charged with protecting children may fail to act in their best interests.”

The Engage team – made up from Lancashire police, council children’s services, social services and charities – was subsequently extended across the county becoming the blueprint for the UK.

Coun Hollern said: “This will concentrate minds but should go further to ensure anyone suspecting child sexual abuse takes action.”

“In Blackburn with Darwen, the police and other agencies acted early but this threat does not go away. It just changes.”

Mr Eastwood said: “In 2006 we acted early in East Lancashire but this emphasises there is a responsibility on everyone in public office to be vigilant and act.”

Mr Stephenson said: “This is absolutely right to make this heinous crime a national priority.“Everyone in public office must take responsibility and there should be penalties for failure.”Mr Cameron said: “What I’m determined to do is end the ‘walk on by’ culture.”