SAVED BY SANCTUARY

550

people are facing deportation in abuse scandal

220

child abduction notices issued

200 60

warnings issued to suspected child groomers suspected taxi drivers have been suspended

8

crime gangs identified and being targeted

OPERATION Sanctuary detectives have protected hundreds of young lives since the abuse scandal was exposed, new figures reveal.

But the shocking threat of child abuse exploitation continues on Tyneside.

Fresh statistics from a report just out shows the extent of the issue in the region, and reveals that:

■ over 200 warnings have been handed to suspected child groomers, while

■ 60 taxi drivers suspected of “sexual exploitation” hae been suspended.

■ over 550 people face deportation following referrals under the Home Office’s ‘High Harm’ scheme

■ police have identified eight crime gangs which are all now subject to “ongoing disruption”

■ a flurry of court orders have been issued, including ten aimed at stopping slavery and trafficking

■ 220 child abduction notices have been issued, warning suspects of arrest if they contact children

■ police acted on over 1,400 pieces of intelligence, and

■ over 60 premises have been raided, with £40,000 in fines handed out, and £30,000 of illegal booze and tobacco seized.

“It is difficult to overstate the positive impact of Sanctuary,” states the Police and Crime Panel report.

Initially launched in 2014 to target sex offenders, Operation Sanctuary expanded in 2015 following £3.5m Home Office funding to tackle sexual exploitation across Tyneside.

Detectives looked at various grooming tactics, such as ‘the boyfriend model.’

It resulted in major convictions, including an 18-person child sex network who were jailed after girls some just 14 - were plied with booze and drugs and forced to have sex.

In total, hundreds of victims have been identified through the operation.

And the report states: “The total number of referrals into Sanctuary are 640, of these 432 are associated with sexual exploitation offences and 77 are associated to modern slavery or trafficking offences and 131 are related offences such as drug offences and assaults.

“Four hundred and nine are adults and 231 are children. All potential complainants were contacted and visited by the victim teams.

“Of these complainants a total of 166 have engaged. All 166 complainants are currently engaging with the victim team.”

Since funding ended, it was absorbed into the Complex Abuse Investigation Unit,

A Serious Case Review sparked calls for an urgent review of sex exploitation laws.

Newcastle City Council said since Sanctuary was launched, 29 taxi licences had been suspended while two have been revoked.

A spokesperson added: “This is all as a result of our day-to-day working with the police to safeguard the public.”

But the report warns the fight is far from over.

“Child sexual exploitation and sexual exploitation continue to occur with Northumbria Police,” it states.

“Social media platforms assist perpetrators to contact and groom victims.

“Northumbria Police and the safeguarding partnership recognise the signs and indicators of sexual exploitation and have a good understanding of its impact.

“Despite targeted activity and investigation this type of offending continues.”

■ So far there have been 90 convictions and those culprits will spend over 400 years behind bars.