Hundreds of child sex groomers on police radar

Officers say about 380 youngsters, some as young as 11, are at imminent risk of falling into the clutches of predators.

The figures have been revealed as the force today launches a campaign to tackle the problem.

The Know the Signs project raises awareness of tell-sale signals a youngster may be falling victim to grooming, such as regularly going missing, playing truant from school or spending an excessive amount of time online

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Ingrid Lee said: “We all have a responsibility to confront this terrible crime and to protect the most vulnerable in society.”

The force arrested more than 100 people last year on suspicion of grooming offences and 40 investigations are ongoing.

Of the 263 identified suspected groomers still at large, 57 per cent are Asian men – but Mrs Lee said that figure may be skewed because of the greater focus on the Asian community as a result of recent high-profile court cases.

“The Asian community recognises this is an issue and we are working with them on it. But there are people who are serial abusers who are very clever and secretive and if we don’t focus on every community, we will miss them,” she said.