IN a small corner of Breightmet, a team of police and council staff are working round the clock to protect Bolton’s children from sexual exploitation.

Phoenix Exit Bolton is one of 10 like-minded teams across Greater Manchester tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE), as police ramp up their work on the issue by launching an awareness-raising campaign called It’s Not Okay.

Janet Graham, children’s services manager at Bolton Council, and Det Sgt Pete Astbury each run a small and devoted team at Breightmet House.

Det Sgt Astbury said the widespread and high-profile child sex rings exposed in Rochdale are not present in Bolton.

He said: “Sometimes Janet’s team will speak to victims first as they can distrust the police, and we can have hours of conversation before they open up.

“Often, they still think they love the person grooming them.

“What we saw in Rochdale was particular takeaways and areas where police knew young girls were being taken to.

“We do not really have that in Bolton. The problem tends to move around between different pockets, and goes on in private.

“Offenders have perhaps seen other cases and realise they are more likely to get caught with on-street grooming.”

He stressed that boys can be victims as well, and are even harder to reach because they are less likely to report what has happened to them.

Mrs Graham said: “The key message is that if a child came forward saying they had been a victim of CSE, they would get a rapid response.

“We will speak to anybody with a complaint.”

Built in 2003, Breightmet House perfectly suits the team’s needs, with comfortable, well-furnished and non-threatening interview rooms, two of which have adjoining video suites, allowing staff to observe and intervene if necessary.

DI Andy Cunliffe, who oversees Bolton’s child sexual exploitation operations, said: “CSE affects a very small percentage of people in the borough but a lot of the victims do not understand what is happening to them.

“It makes them harder for us to reach because they do not know they have been a crime victim.

“A key issue of the campaign is getting people to understand what CSE actually is, and what to look out for.”

Mrs Graham added that victims suffer “trauma” which lasts a lifetime, making it imperative that the issue is dealt with.

Earlier this month, paedophile Sulman Dar was jailed for six-and-a-half years for luring two 15-year-old girls to his home to have sex with them after offering alcohol.

The Breightmet House team had won the trust of victims in that case, which led to the conviction.

They are hopeful there will be many more to come as public awareness is increased.

KEY warning signs of CSE which parents should look out for are:

  • Staying out overnight.
  • Truanting from school.
  • Acquiring money, clothes or mobile phones they cannot account for.
  • Excessive and secretive use of the internet.
  • Beginning a relationship with an older male or female.
  • Concerns they are drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
  • Change in mood or behaviour.