The heinous crimes perpetrated against children, which sparked a comprehensive inquiry into the systemic failures of child protection agencies, will not be overlooked despite indications that the number of victims in Barnsley has increased over the past four years.
Monday commemorated the tenth anniversary of the publishing of the ‘Jay Report’, which revealed that a minimum of 1,400 girls under the age of consent, with some as young as 11, were subjected to abuse between 1997 to 2013.
Professor Alexis Jay, an author and academic, characterised the abuse as “shocking” and revealed that children had been subjected to rape by numerous perpetrators, forcibly transported to other towns and cities in northern England, and forcibly abducted and physically assaulted.
Approximately 33% of the victims had a prior history with social services due to concerns related to child protection and maltreatment.
Police authorities in Barnsley have used the abuse scandal framework as a template following an increase in reported cases in the town in recent years.
Projections obtained through a Freedom of Information request made to the police force indicate that there may have been 320 instances of crime in Barnsley last year.
There has been a 237 per cent rise compared to 2020, during which 95 occurrences were documented.
The numbers have consistently increased each year after that time, with 136 instances in 2021 and 188 in 2022.
If the numbers are accurate upon publication, Barnsley will have a rate of 104 victims per 100,000 individuals, the highest in South Yorkshire.
Nevertheless, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, who also serves as the Police and Crime Commissioner, emphasised the need not to become complacent.
In his statement, he expressed that the Jay Report provided a comprehensive account of abhorrent and nearly inconceivable offences committed against children.
The research highlights the numerous and recurring instances where organisations have failed to conduct self-assessment and mutual oversight, neglecting to prioritise the well-being of our communities over their self-preservation.
“Repeatedly, despite explicit warnings, the inaction of institutions exposed vulnerable children and families to the control of violent and perilous individuals.”
“Although all the evidence indicates that we are currently in a distinct and improved situation, it is crucial to avoid any sense of satisfaction or self-satisfaction.”
“All individuals in influential positions throughout South Yorkshire need to recognise and accept the failure consistently and to persistently collaborate to not only reinstate those institutions but also regain the trust of our community in their motives and deeds.”
“A decade after Alexis Jay’s report, rebuilding trust will continue with great determination.”
“The occurrence of those crimes in South Yorkshire should have been prevented, but we must remember and acknowledge that they did happen.”
The results resulted in the resignation of Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone, followed by former crime commissioner Shaun Wright, who had been in charge of the council’s children’s services from 2005 to 2010.
After significant changes, South Yorkshire Police formed specialised teams in its four districts to address criminal activity. These teams now get guidance from survivors.
According to a police statement, the allocation of more resources to establish extra child exploitation teams in Barnsley and Doncaster has increased their capacity to consistently deliver a service aimed at protecting children.
The new teams have been established using the HMICFRS-commended Rotherham partnership model and have been actively promoting involvement and awareness regarding the danger of child exploitation.
The staff in the new teams have been working on enhancing their knowledge of the local and regional context, which will enable them to gain a more comprehensive grasp of the threat posed by child sexual exploitation.
The authorities have noticed a rise in cyber-related criminal activity.
“Consistent with the overall situation in the country, the internet as a method of committing crimes now represents more than 60 per cent of all reported offences.”
“Additional training and awareness sessions are being created for professionals and the general public regarding online safety and young individuals.”
We maintain a specialised exploitation team in our four districts – Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. These teams consist of officers with expertise in assisting victims and conducting investigations related to such crimes.
Additionally, we collaborate with local governments, support agencies, and charities to enhance our expertise, detect at-risk children, and provide optimal assistance to those impacted.
The South Yorkshire Police considers the exploitation of children in any manner to be highly repulsive, and addressing this issue remains a top priority for them.