A NEW strategy to prevent child sexual exploitation has been approved by the cabinet in a move described by the council leader as one of the most important decisions it will take.

The revised document provides an update to a strategy introduced in 2015 and is based on lessons learnt as well as changes in the understanding of exploitation and how it manifests itself in our communities.

It shows that at any time in Swindon, 60 children between 12 and 18 were identified as being at risk, with as many as 15 new cases identified each quarter.

The strategy looks at ways to improve the early identification of those at risk to allow for intervention, both in schools and the wider community.

It looks to ensure that councillors and council officers are equipped with the tools to play their part in those interventions where they are called to do so.

But beyond the civic offices, there is much more the council is planning to do.

A programme of work will be undertaken to increase the understanding around child sexual exploitation with those working in the night time economy, whether that is in hotels or as taxi drivers or pub and club door staff.

The majority of previously identified victims or at-risk youths have been young white girls. More work is planned around identifying young boys and those from minority communities where reporting or acknowledging signs of exploitation is more challenging.

These steps will be taken alongside a plethora of additional measures to enhance identification, intervention and prevention.

The council also plans to continue its work with law enforcement partners to disrupt the perpetrators or potential perpetrators of these acts.

Commending the strategy to her cabinet colleagues on Wednesday, Fionuala Foley, the lead member on children’s services, said the importance of the issue could not be underestimated.

“Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do,” she said.

“Sometimes people don’t realise how easily a young person can be coerced. It is as simple as someone befriending a child at McDonald’s because they’re on their own, just becoming their friend.

“It could be a young person who has fallen out with their friend at school - someone comes along and could be their friend for six months, they just worm their way into their lives and the next thing you hear is that they’re being exploited.

“It is so easy to happen and it is so important that we raise awareness.”

Coun Foley emphasised the important of getting the message across that exploitation happens in all walks of life and that thinking “it wouldn’t happen to my child” could be a very dangerous approach to take.