Rochdale’s Operation Vigilant continues to tackle child exploitation
Operation Vigilant, run from Rochdale run by the Sunrise Complex Safeguarding Team based at Rochdale police station has dealt with 121 cases that they have successfully disrupted
More than 120 cases of child exploitation have been disrupted as part of an ongoing operation.
Operation Vigilant, run from Rochdale run by the Sunrise Complex Safeguarding Team based at Rochdale police station has dealt with 121 cases that they have successfully disrupted since being set up last year.
With a shared ethos of ‘Never Again’, child exploitation and protection remains a priority for the team, which consists of GMP officers, children’s services, youth workers, social workers, health professionals, housing officers and those working in public protection services.
They are responsible for assessing received intelligence every 24 hours and, as a monthly neighbourhood policing operation, seek to disrupt individuals who are looking to exploit children.
A lot of this intelligence refers to local ‘hotspot’ premises where young people congregate and receive free food, alcohol, vapes and drugs.
Thanks to intelligence recently received, during the latest Op Vigilant day of action on Thursday, March 30, a number of illegal vapes were seized and 24 nitrous oxide canisters will not be making their way onto the streets of Rochdale.
Chief Superintendent Nicky Porter, who is the District Commander in Rochdale said: “We are absolutely committed in Rochdale to disrupt local exploitation of children, identify those who are responsible and bring them to justice.
“All of the response and neighbourhood officers have taken part in a number of awareness sessions, delivered by senior leaders and multi-agency managers, including trauma-informed response, safeguarding, professional curiosity, intelligence and evidence gathering and enforcement.
“This enables our officers to take a proactive approach of targeting individuals and groups committing both CSE and CCE offences. It also ensures that professional standards and expectations when engaging with young people, whilst maintaining trust and confidence.”
The work to combat child exploitation in Rochdale continues with regular warrants being executed and arrests being made.
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Jackson said: “We continue to provide specialist support to the victims of child exploitation as we work tirelessly to identify, charge and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“At the heart of this is our ongoing joint working with partners to ensure that we share our collective powers to protect children and disrupt offenders.”
Spot the signs of child exploitation: changes in behaviour; not coming home when they say they will or going missing; changes in appearance; reluctant to talk about friends/relationships and becoming secretive; struggling to engage in school; overly protective of their messages/social media; having more than one phone; accompanied by individuals older than them; concerns surrounding the use of alcohol or drugs; sudden changes/fear of people/friends; unexplained gifts or money; sexual discussions/language which is not usual; evidence of sexual images being shared (by themselves or by others)
If something doesn’t feel right – report it.
Manchester Police can be contacted via gmp.police.uk or by dialling 101. You can also share information anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111.
