In response to the HMICFRS report regarding safeguarding actions required at Derbyshire police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-59294889 we are disappointed that areas for improvement have been identified but offer our support to help improve matters.
We also feel it important to highlight that, although there are evidently some issues that need to be addressed, the bigger picture is that child exploitation is on the increase both locally and nationally. This, in part, is due to the increased time that children and young people have spent online during the pandemic which has made them more vulnerable to grooming especially by sexual predators and County Lines drugs gangs. Safe and Sound and our partner organisations including Derbyshire police, have all seen an increased workload in the number of children, young people and their families who need support and protection from criminals looking to exploit them for their own purposes. We continue to work positively with the Constabulary in our role as the county’s specialist child exploitation charity.