CSE concerns over almost 100 children in Telford

The leader of Telford and Wrekin Council said the data in the report was 'invaluable'

The latest annual report into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Telford has revealed that social services were contacted 118 times last year by people concerned for youngsters' welfare.

Telford and Wrekin Council documents stated that of the 95 children identified to the authority in the 12 months to April this year, 50 cases were referred for further assessment - numbers nearly identical to the previous 12 months.

The council committed itself to carrying out annual studies after 2022's independent inquiry into CSE in Telford found large-scale offending across decades, with more than 1,000 girls abused.

Local police probed 53 matters in the review period, of which two resulted in convictions.

Ten more cases continue to be investigated.

During the review period, West Mercia Police reported a focus on 23 suspects - with about three-quarters of them male.

The 2022 inquiry raised concerns the force had in the past failed to properly investigate south Asian men over CSE amid concerns it would have been "too politically incorrect".

In the 12 months to April, and where ethnicity was recorded, 87% of those investigated by police were white. Two individuals were Asian, and a third was of mixed race.

Nearly 40% of suspects were under 18, according to the annual report - the third since the process began.

Data covering the young people at the centre of police investigations, meanwhile, showed their age and gender was similar to that which emerged in the previous 12 months, with 87% of them female and white, and having an average age of 15.

A total of 46% were reported as having special educational needs.

More than half of the incidents involved children being incited to send indecent images of themselves in exchange for a reward of some kind.

The report is due to be discussed next week at a meeting of Telford and Wrekin Council - which was criticised in the 2022 inquiry along with police, with both apologising for failings.

The leader of the authority, Lee Carter, said the authority was one of the first in the country to publish such annual reports and the data was "proving invaluable in developing and maintaining a breadth and depth of understanding of CSE".

He said: "Every authority should be required to take similar action."

The 118 reports made to the council's Family Connect team followed 115 reports in the previous financial year.

The report also sets out some of the actions taken in the past year, including awareness raising for the public and extra training for police officers.