Social services only referred half of cases

SHOCK Sunday Mirror’s story SOCIAL services in Telford received 715 child sexual exploitation referrals between 2013 and 2016, yet fewer than half were sent to its safeguarding team.

Figures obtained by the Mirror under freedom of information laws showed only 324 of recent cases were referred by Telford and Wrekin Council. Fewer still – 303 – were passed to its Children Abused Through Exploitation team.

A council spokesman said our figures “do not paint the whole picture”. He added: “A referral to children’s safeguarding service is just one of a number of appropriate outcomes to a contact of this type. Our analysis shows that all the contacts received a proportionate response.

“In addition to the 33% referred to Children Safeguarding Service, a further 38% were referred to another council or partner service with the remaining 29% receiving information and advice.”