Event raising awareness with Leeds hotel industry on how to spot any signs of child sexual exploitation to be held later this month

Sent on behalf of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership:

A training event providing hoteliers with information on how to spot any signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and what they can do to help tackle it, is set to be held in Leeds later this month.

The event, which will be held on 27 February 2020, is part of a city-wide approach being undertaken to raise awareness of CSE on both a local and national level. The event will detail how CSE can occur in hotels and how hoteliers can help to support the fight against the exploitation of children. The training session which was requested by hoteliers in the city, is being organised by Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership, Safer Leeds, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police, in partnership with Ambition:Leeds and the Hotels and Venues Association.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is child abuse. The sexual exploitation of children can occur in all communities and any child can become a victim. Certain businesses and locations are particularly vulnerable to being utilised, including licenced premises, hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. The hospitality trade is therefore a key partner in helping to tackle child sexual exploitation effectively across Leeds.

Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership said:

“Working with businesses and organisations which may not usually be involved with safeguarding processes is not only necessary but in my view crucial in the fight against CSE. We recognise initiatives such as these as central to being ready and prepared to recognising and responding to sexual exploitation.”

James Rogers, Chair of Safer Leeds and Director of Communities and Environment, Leeds City Council said:

“Leeds City Council and partners aspire to be the best city in the UK and having safe, strong communities is a key priority for us. We take our responsibility to safeguard the most vulnerable in society very seriously. Children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation including sexual and criminal exploitation. This requires us to have a collaborative approach to protecting children and young people in our city.

“Hoteliers have asked us to help them understand the threat posed by this form of exploitation and what they can do to protect vulnerable young people on their premises and we’re pleased to be able to work in partnership with them.”

“As Chair of Safer Leeds (the statutory Community Safety Partnership), I want people in Leeds to be safe and feel safe in their homes, in their streets, and the places they go. We are proud that Leeds has a vibrant economy with many opportunities for growth in industries linked to the hospitality sector. We want to ensure that those who work in and visit the hotels in Leeds do so safe in the knowledge that people are safeguarded.”

Detective Chief Inspector Allan Raw, who heads Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said:

“Hotels and other businesses that can come into contact with victims or perpetrators of child sexual exploitation have a vital role to play in helping us to detect and prevent this particularly insidious type of crime.

“The more we can do in partnership to raise people’s awareness of the signs to look for then the better we can all work together to safeguard young people from this kind of abuse and bring those responsible to justice.

“This training event will provide an invaluable opportunity for businesses to gain the relevant knowledge of how they and their staff can help to keep children safe and I would encourage as many as possible to take part.”

This free event will be held on 27 February 2020. For more information and to secure a place, hoteliers should email: dianne.wainwright@ambitionleeds.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

If you are a member of the media and would like to interview Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, Chair of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership around the event, please contact the Leeds City Council communications team at: CommunicationsTeam@leeds.gov.uk or ring: 0113 3786007.