PCC promises 'deep dive' over force's failings

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said he was receiving regular briefings from a senior officer

A police force's child safeguarding efforts are to be looked into after a watchdog report highlighted serious failings.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said Cleveland Police needed to "urgently improve" how it investigated cases of children being exploited online, along with its response to missing young people.

It also highlighted instances in which the force's approach potentially put vulnerable children at further risk, in a report published last month.

Labour's Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matt Storey said he would be conducting a "deep dive" with officers and "challenging them to ensure the work that needs to be done to keep children in Cleveland safe is continuing".

He said he was "really concerned" with the findings, adding he had been receiving regular fortnightly briefings from a senior officer, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Frequently poor' response

The report detailed one example where a parent complained her 16-year-old son had been subject to a "sextortion" blackmail attempt online.

Officers logged the incident but did not examine the teenager's phone for potential evidence or attempt to identify a suspect, closing the case and sending the woman on her way with an Action Fraud leaflet.

HMICFRS said the force had a "fragmented approach" to managing child sexual and criminal exploitation.

It also said the response to missing children incidents was "frequently poor" with delays of up to three hours regularly occurring.

Responding to a councillor's question over what steps he would take, Storey said: "This is a really worrying report and I am really concerned [with the findings].

"I have been kept up to date with what is being done to address the concerns raised and Cleveland Police has provided a comprehensive response to the issues raised, many of which were being dealt with even while inspectors were still here [in June]."

Speaking last month, Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker said many aspects highlighted by inspectors "have already seen considerable improvement".