Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Following the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Telford, I, together with West Mercia Police and partners from across the borough, have come together to implement the inquiry’s recommendations over the past twelve months.
“The report, that was released last week, is testament to the significant progress made by West Mercia Police over this time. However, it’s clear that there’s still more that needs to be done to make right the historic failures that impacted the lives of so many victims.
“It will take continued commitment to truly eradicate exploitation, which is why I am unwavering in my promise to use all the powers available to me to support and challenge the Chief Constable to ensure progress continues to be made at pace. I will also continue to identify funding and ways in which we can tackle this abhorrent crime at the root cause and prevent it from causing further harm. I have already funded 20 roles to provide tailored support to young people and children, as well as training for more than 18,000 key workers to help identify the signs of child exploitation.
“It’s equally important that those committing these offences feel the full extent of the law, I will continue to work closely with West Mercia Police and partners to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to bring offenders causing harm in our communities to justice.”
