Child abuse ‘social norm’ in Manchester

Sexual exploitation of children has become a “social norm” in the Greater Manchester County in northwest England, a damning report has found.

The independent inquiry, led by Ann Coffey, the Labour MP for Stockport, revealed that sexual abuse of children has become “normal” on some streets and estates in Greater Manchester.

“This is a real and ongoing problem. I have been concerned about the number of people who have told me that in some neighborhoods child sexual exploitation had become the new social norm,” Coffey said.

The 148-page report also revealed that more than 600 children, reported missing in the county in 2014, were at risk of sexual exploitation or serious harm.

Coffey said tackling the sexual exploitation of children is an absolute priority for the British government. The Labour politician also recommended spot checks on children’s homes and care provision for 16- and 17-year-olds to be registered and inspected by Britain’s school watchdog, Ofsted.

Britain’s Home Secretary Theresa May described the findings of the report about the scale of child abuse as “alarming.”

“This is yet another disturbing report which highlights unacceptable failings by authorities at a local level to ensure the protection of children,” she added.

The UK has witnessed a surge in child molestation and sexual abuse cases.

In August, a report by Professor Alexis Jay revealed that at least 1,400 children had been sexually exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

In some cases, children as young as 11 were “raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten and intimidated,” the report added.

MOS/HMV/SS