WILTSHIRE Police will have more resources to clamp down on cases of child sexual exploitation after the Home Office handed out more than £1 million to fund a cross-border response with the Avon and Somerset force.

The Home Office provided £1.2 million for the new project, which will see both forces work with local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, children’s safeguarding boards and children’s charity Barnardo’s to identify and support victims of CSE across the area.

It will be the first multi-agency, cross-border initiative aimed at reducing the risk of children becoming victims of CSE, which is a form of child abuse where victims are manipulated or forced into taking part in a sexual act, often in return for attention, affection, money, drugs, alcohol or accommodation.

Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am delighted that we have been awarded this funding to enhance the work we have been doing in Wiltshire and Swindon to safeguard young people and protect them from harm.

“Becoming a victim of CSE can have a devastating impact on a young person’s life.

“This project will help us reduce the risks and provide support for our most vulnerable victims.”

The Government funding followed a bid to the Home Office Innovation Fund by the local Police and Crime Commissioners.

In total, more than £2 million will be invested in the project during the next two years, including £900,000 from both PCCs, local authorities across the area and the children’s charity Barnardo’s, in addition to the £1.2 million from the Home Office.

Det Supt Craig Holden, the head of public protection at Wiltshire Police, said: “This funding will give a real boost to our work on CSE and help us share expertise, intelligence and data with our regional partners to disrupt and prosecute offenders.

“That is so important because abusers work across county boundaries to target vulnerable young people.”

The service will also aim to ensure consistent and integrated services are available to support very vulnerable young victims and encourage organisations to share information to disrupt crime.

As part of this specialist staff will work alongside professionals and organisations will share information and best practice as well as raise awareness of CSE and increase training.

A specialist multi-agency risk assessment conference for CSE cases will also be introduced.