CROYDON ECLIPSE
What is Child Sexual Exploitation? any involvement of a child or young person below 18 in sexual activity for which a remuneration of cash or in kind is given to the child or young person, or a third party or person. The perpetrator will have power over the young person by virtue of one or more of the following: age, emotional maturity, gender, physical strength and intellect " (Palmer, 2001)
Working Together Co-located Child centred approach Information Sharing Working knowledge of multi- agency protocols Experienced CP Detectives Knowledge of CP legislation Therapeutic services Advocacy model of support Offer a flexible range of short & long term interventions
Working in Partnership Child at Risk Multi-agency meetings Collate Intelligence Information sharing Rapport building & disclosure Identification of suspects Therapeutic services Improving knowledge of community
The Financial Impact Largest youth population in MPS - Highest number of LAC children in MPS 76% of people missing in Croydon during 2008 were children Over 70% were children placed within the Croydon Care System Each missing child report takes 5 hours Police time at a cost of £1200 Costs escalate when it becomes a protracted enquiry Impact on Police response to emergency calls
Case Study Suspect in crimes, including armed robbery, burglary, theft, arson and assault MFH on11 occasions totalling 100 days Taken into PP on 3 occasions in 2008 Police contact on 60 occasions, not crime related. Eclipse direct intervention - S2 Abduction notice which served to assist in locating child. Engagement with Barnardo's worker whilst in secure accommodation Secure order obtained and child placed into accommodation until aged 16: IMPACT: Making Croydon a safer place by reducing crime against persons Improving health outcomes and life chances of child Reducing Police expenditure on dealing with criminality and welfare
In summary The need to safeguard & promote the welfare of children is paramount Children have a right to protection and a right to access the Criminal Justice System Positive outcomes for children are maximised when agencies work together and co-ordinate their activity (Pan London Protocol 2005)