Girls’ parties halted ‘after sex exploitation’

POLICE broke up a party after fears that teenage girls were being enticed on social media to events where they could be sexually exploited.

Officers said they believed the parties, which were advertised through social networks such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, had been arranged for the purpose of child sexual exploitation.

Police said they had been made aware that “some sexual activity” had taken place at the parties after youngsters gave information to teachers, care workers and parents.

Teenagers who attended a house party in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this month were charged £2 on the door. Officers, who had been tipped off by a local college, reportedly found 40 girls, some aged just 14 or 15, at or heading towards the party.

Jane Sawyers of Staffordshire Police told the BBC: “The purpose of arranging the party was so that some children could be exploited.”

One mother said her daughter attended an event with a friend who received an invitation from a 17-year-old boy on Snapchat who claimed to know her from primary school.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “The police shut it down more or less the instant it started. She was upset afterwards, but she learnt a valuable lesson.”

A police spokesman said: “An operation stopped groups who were organising parties through social media to attract young females in North Staffordshire with the intention to carry out child sexual exploitation.”