Crime Targets to Blame for Ignorance of Child Sexual Exploitation

Home Secretary Theresa May has said that Home Office targets were in part to blame for the ignorance towards child sexual exploitation in Sheffield and Rotherham.

Mrs May, who spoke at the annual conference of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said the force was so intent on meeting Home Office targets for car crime and burglary that it failed to act on the abuse of hundreds of young girls across South Yorkshire.

She said:

"A police force allegedly so intent on meeting Home Office targets about car theft and burglary that it ignored hundreds of young girls being abused in Rotherham and Sheffield.

"A police force where resources followed those so-called 'priority crimes', and may have been diverted away from issues like rape and sexual violence that were not on the list."

"And a management culture, according to some whistleblowers, in which senior officers' pay was linked to these targets, meaning it was possible to indirectly reward officers for neglecting the victims of sexual abuse."

"We can never allow that culture to exist in policing again - and I am determined to root it out. I've got rid of the national targets, and now I want to take on the target culture imposed at local level. Enough is enough."

According to Mrs May's speech at the event an independent review led by Irene Curtis, President of the Police Superintendent's Association, will be carried out into the use of performance targets.

If you've been accused or charged with a sexual offence, contact our crime solicitors on 01302 360 606 for advice.

G V Hale & Co

Crime Solicitors