STEPS are being taken to reassure residents about measures to protect children in the wake of child sexual exploitation in other areas.

An announcement was made by councillors following the high-profile Rotherham case, in which at least 1,400 children are said to have been exploited in the town since 1997.

Cllr Gill Campbell, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, confirmed at last week’s full council meeting that an 18-year-old girl had been convicted at Bury Magistrates Court for an offence related to child sexual exploitation, and that another case was currently proceeding through the courts.

Bury Council has created a dedicated Child Sexual Exploitation Team to work alongside the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

Cllr Campbell said that these two cases had come to light since the team’s creation four months ago.

She said: “Whilst we can’t change society, we can remain focused and diligent on sustaining our caring culture for these vulnerable children.

“We are also determined to go after the perpetrators to get the message across that this behaviour is unacceptable and they will pay a heavy price in continuing with this abhorrent behaviour.”

Cllr Mike Connolly, leader of the council, told the meeting that the issue was being given the “highest priority”, and that agencies such as the police, schools and the voluntary sector were working together to combat it.

He said: “We know that through improved agency working and a single reporting point, this has inevitably led to a rise in referrals for child sexual exploitation to the hub over the past couple of years.

“However, with the range of filters we have in place, this ensures that the net is case wide to reach out early when young girls and boys are at risk, and positive action can be taken to protect them.”

Cllr Connolly also told the meeting that the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) has set up Project Phoenix which is aimed at linking the work of local authorities together in tackling child sexual exploitation.

He added: “For security reasons, I am not able to tell you how many perpetrators that are known to us, and are being targeted or tracked at this time.

“In addition to the young people we regard as at medium or high risk, we are actively monitoring a larger group to ensure they are, and remain, safe.”