AN INNOVATIVE project tackling sexual exploitation of children in East Lancashire has been named as runner-up at a national awards ceremony.
Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Engage, made up of police officers, social workers, youth workers and sexual health workers, came second out of 130 entries in the annual Tilley Awards ceremony.
Led by Lancashire Constabulary and Blackburn with Darwen Council’s children’s services, the Engage team use their expertise to track down offenders who groom teenagers for sex, while offering support and protection to young victims and their families.
Charities such as Brook, Lifeline and Barnardos, along with Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust, also make up a large part of the team.
The Lancashire Telegraph launched our Keep Them Safe campaign alongside Operation Engage to highlight the problem of girls being groomed for sex by older men.
Since Engage was set up in March 2008, more than 180 potentially vulnerable children have been referred to Engage.
Prosecutions have increased dramatically, with more than 25 people charged with more than 63 offences of sexual exploitation.
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