New £30,000 app being built to help agencies gather information to reduce risks of child sexual exploitation

It is a response to a recommendation from His Majesty’s Police and Fire and Rescue Services Inspectorate from 2023.

The recommendation was that all police forces should improve their management information and data processes to gain insight into risk visibility, prioritisation and effective allocation of resources in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE).

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has given £30,000 to West Mercia Police to design and build a Power App. It is aimed at reducing the risk of young people falling victim to online CSE.

This will enable a comprehensive system for reporting CSE, including cases where victims have been exploited online, and the actions taken by police.

This will pool information and make it available to the Chief of Police, Chief Officers, the Home Office and the National Crime Agency, ensuring clearer management of information so that risks can be identified earlier and further instances of online CSE can be prevented.

PCC John Campion said: “Child sexual exploitation is an appalling crime which continues to cause devastating damage to communities across West Mercia.

“By investing in tools like the PowerApp, all official agencies can play their part in ensuring that these heinous crimes are eradicated from our society and that immediate action is taken when CSE is reported.

“I am proud to have made this investment, which once again delivers on one of HMICFRS’s recommendations to ensure West Mercia Police continually improves its response to CSE.”

Chief Inspector Leanne Lowe said: “We continue to do everything we can to tackle child sexual exploitation and it remains a top priority for West Mercia Police.

“We welcome tools that can help us build a picture of these crimes and help us bring perpetrators to justice.

“The PowerApp is a great example of how technological advancements can support policing. It is vital that we continue to work with our partners to keep communities safe and this is just one example of how we are effectively gathering information to work more collaboratively.”