Victims have a voice... it’s time to listen

MP Anne Coffey’s report on child exploitation in Greater Manchester has revealed chilling comments made by victims and those at risk.

The Stockport MP visited schools, youth clubs and other organisations to speak with children and young people in preparing her report.

In a section entitled “Real Voices” the report includes eye-opening statements made by victims themselves.

One girl, who gave evidence in court, said: “I lost my virginity to him. When my foster parent found out, she said ‘Why are you being a slag?’ I was 12 and he was 19.”

Within the report Ms Coffey prioritised listening to children and young people and to let their unaltered, authentic voices sound out.

She visited a group of girls who talked about the worrying amount of unwanted attention and touching from men in the street and even talked about sexual exploitation becoming the “social norm” in some areas.

One girl who was approached by a man who started touching said she had to tell him: “Can you not see I am a little girl? I am in my school uniform.”

Another girl said: “The men do not care how old you are. There is a group of men who hang around outside a shop. When we go past in school uniform they say things and make us feel horrible.

“One man tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘How old are you?’ I said 15 and he grabbed my arm and said come into the shop. He was about 40.

“This is on a main road. They just hang around and they are disgusting and make you feel horrible. One said I cannot wait for summer to see what you are going to wear. They make you feel so uncomfortable.”

Ms Coffey said: “Young people themselves hold the information about what is happening to them. All we need to do is listen.”

Many of the children who contributed said a lot of sexual abuse goes unreported because the police aren’t trusted.

One girl said: “ If my house got burgled, I would go to the police but if someone touched me, I would not go to the police because it would be a waste of time.”

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Sir Peter Fahy says tackling sexual exploitation of children is “an absolute priority.”

He said: “I hope the report leads to a wider debate on how we treat vulnerable children. We will continue to hunt out offenders who prey on some of the most vulnerable in our society and urge anyone with any information or concerns to come to us — we will take action.”