Lloyd backs bid to tackle grooming

A PROPOSAL to give senior police officers the power to temporarily close premises where they believe child sex grooming is taking place will be debated in Parliament today.

The measure has been supported by Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd and Rochdale Council leader Colin Lambert.

More than 45 girls aged 12-16 in Rochdale are thought to have fallen victim to a child-abuse network involving at least 56 men.

Nine men, including two from Oldham, were jailed for a total of 77 years in May 2012, for grooming five youngsters for sex.

Mr Lloyd says the new measure is crucial in protecting youngsters from predatory paedophiles.

Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon has tabled an amendment to the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Police Bill currently working through the Lords.

Mr Lloyd said: “We’ve seen the devastating impact the sexual exploitation of children has had on our communities across the country. “This simple measure would give police a powerful tool to disrupt the wicked activities of men who seek to sexually abuse young people.”

The closure order allows senior police to close non-licensed premises that have been subject to complaints of anti-social behaviour. This could include takeaways or shops in which grooming had taken place.