Hundreds of Potteries youngsters 'at risk of exploitation'

A report to city councillors has revealed the amount of youngsters in danger of various forms of abuse

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HUNDREDS of children in Stoke-on-Trent were considered to be at risk of exploitation over the course of almost a year, a new report reveals.

Nearly 500 cases were assessed between January and the end of November last year, according to the city council.

The figures are revealed in a recent report to the cabinet providing detailed information about current measures to safeguard children from exploitation across the Potteries.

Child exploitation is an umbrella term used to describe various forms of abuse, including sexual abuse for some form of gain, coercing children into criminal activities, trafficking, online abuse and serious youth violence.

A tool known as Risk Factor Matrix (RFM) is used to evaluate a child’s level of risk of exploitation in the Potteries. The council’s Safeguarding Children at Risk of Exploitation report states: “The RFM categorises risk as ‘vulnerable to exploitation’ (previously low risk), ‘suspected exploitation’ (medium risk), or ‘evidence of exploitation’ (high risk).