Police missed opportunities to investigate the possible sexual exploitation of a girl repeatedly discovered in vulnerable situations.
She was found drunk in a park with older men when aged just 11 and, when 13, discovered in bed with one man while another man hid beneath it.
Merseyside Police was today told there were “numerous failures” linked to her case following an investigation by a national inquiry into child sexual exploitation.
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The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, established in 2015, published its latest findings in a 193-page report released on Tuesday.
Created to look at the role institutions in England and Wales had played in protecting children, it focused on six areas - one of which was St Helens.
The inquiry highlighted a number of concerns, including that Merseyside Police officers were not questioning children enough on "where they had been and with whom” when found after going missing.
One case study focused on the experiences of a girl who was deemed at “very high risk” of sexual exploitation and kept being found with older men in suspicious circumstances.
They included while she was drunk, at a holiday park, and while in a bedroom.
The report said: “There were numerous failures to investigate the possible sexual exploitation of [the girl] in St Helens, including when aged 11 she was found drunk in a park with older males, when an older male took her to a holiday park for several nights and when the police found [her], aged 13, in bed with an older male and another male hiding under the bed.
“The following year, it was discussed in a multi-agency meeting that [the girl] was having sex with a named 17-year-old.
“Despite the known child sexual exploitation risk, the male was not interviewed until at least seven months later and ultimately no further action was taken because he denied the offence.”
The inquiry found “there was no clear evidence of a strategy to address the high number of episodes of going missing that contributed to the risk” of the girl, who was in the care of St Helens Council at the time.
The report said Merseyside Police “acknowledged that the police and partnership response should have been more considered and rigorous in relation to the males that this child was found with”.
Other issues raised through the inquiry included concerns about the language used by officials in relation to victims, and questions about the resources available to identify children vulnerable to crime gangs not already known to Merseyside Police.
Further troubling case studies included the experiences of a girl who was groomed online and sexually exploited by adults across three police force boundaries. It was found the placements and the assessment of her needs "failed to keep her safe".
A boy with learning difficulties who was placed in St Helens by another council was raped and sexually exploited after being targeted through a dating app.
In relation to his case, the report said: "A risk assessment by placement staff noted that he had 'openly stated meeting unknown males for sex' and that he 'has no concept about the danger he is placing himself in when meeting unknown males for sex'.
"It is difficult to see how the sexual acts to which [he] was subjected could be regarded as consensual."
St Helens Council has since accepted the boy's disability "had not been taken into account in this regard and noted that he 'was a victim'".
Commenting on the findings of the inquiry, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley said “significant progress” had been made in recent years and that the force will treat any victim who seeks help with “empathy and respect”.
He said: “Every child matters, should be safe and cared for, and be able to thrive in our communities.
"As police we are doing all we can to pursue and prosecute criminals who exploit and abuse young people. But, as the inquiry has found, more must be done to stop this abuse from happening in the first place.
“ Merseyside Police is committed to protecting all children from abuse, and police officers and staff are working closely with our partners to keep children safe.
“Sadly, we know that some of our most vulnerable young people experience harm which has lifelong consequences and policing is committed to keeping our children safe, and protecting them from abuse in all its forms.
“We acknowledge the valuable work of the inquiry, which quite rightly puts a real focus on children at risk of exploitation, and who have been harmed by exploitation so that they can be better safeguarded.
“We will reflect and act on the inquiry’s findings and we accept the recommendations.”
Jim Leivers, director of children’s services at St Helens Borough Council, said the organisation was "working hard to protect and support young people but, as the inquiry has found, more must be done to stop this abuse from happening in the first place".
He said steps had been taken based on the findings of the report, adding: “Over the last two years St Helens has developed its exploitation services including working with Catch 22, a national charity, to ensure all children who are reported as missing from home are on return, interviewed and offered support.
"In addition, we have established a specialist complex safeguarding team, enhanced an effective joint working arrangement with Merseyside Police aimed at deterrence, disruption, detection and extensive support for children, young people, and their families, as well as developing a detailed and comprehensive training programme for all staff.
“Child sexual exploitation is an incredibly difficult and challenging area to work within and to tackle, many children do not see themselves as victims and are often abused by people who portray themselves as their friends.
"In St Helens we will do all we can to ensure children are protected and kept safe from harm."
Overall, the inquiry revealed “extensive failures by local authorities and police forces mean they are struggling to keep pace with the changing nature of sexual exploitation of children by networks”.
It said children are being sexually exploited by predatory groups in all parts of England and Wales in the “most degrading and destructive ways”, with many victims raped or sexually assaulted repeatedly, over a period of months or even years.
Chair to the inquiry, Professor Alexis Jay, concluded: “The sexual exploitation of children by networks is not a rare phenomenon confined to a small number of areas with high-profile criminal cases.
“It is a crime which involves the sexual abuse of children in the most degrading and destructive ways, by multiple perpetrators.
“We found extensive failures by local authorities and police forces in the ways in which they tackled this sexual abuse.
“There appeared to be a flawed assumption that child sexual exploitation was on the wane, however it has become even more of a hidden problem and increasingly underestimated when only linked to other forms of criminal behaviour such as county lines.”
The inquiry made six recommendations for the more effective targeting of exploitation gangs, including a requirement for police forces and councils to collect specific data on all cases of known or suspected child sexual exploitation, including by criminal gangs and organised networks.
The report released today was the 18th to be published by the inquiry. A final report, taking in all 19 strands of the inquiry such as investigations into abuse in Westminster and the church, is expected to be put before Parliament later this year.
*Anyone who is concerned a child may be at risk should call 999 if they suspect an incident is in progress. Information can be passed to Merseyside Police by calling 101 or via Twitter (@MerPolCC).
Information can also be shared, anonymously, with Crimestoppers by calling on 0800 555 111 or online here.
Other networks that can provide support include:
NSPCC – call 0808 800 5000 or e-mail help@nspcc.org.uk.
Childline – call 0800 1111
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Cheshire and Merseyside, which can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063, or Rape and Sexual Assault Merseyside (RASA) on 0151 558 1801
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