Poor partner efforts limiting Dorset Police’s child protection effectiveness

Vulnerable children are losing out on safeguarding opportunities because Dorset-based agencies do not properly understand the risks they face from gangs, County Lines and criminal exploitation, Ofsted inspectors have found.

In a letter to local services sent alongside Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, Ofsted praised Dorset Police’s highly proactive work to safeguard under-18s but pointed out that this same effort has not been shown across the board.

Some cases are being prematurely closed, potentially leaving vulnerable children at risk.

The letter said: “An unhelpful distinction made by partners between Dorset children and children who spend some time in Dorset results in some children at risk who might be in the area very briefly not being prioritised operationally or strategically.

“Dorset Police has seen a significant rise in the police cases involving County Lines offences, but the partnership is not yet collectively using this intelligence to provide an effective multi-agency response for children.”

Dorset Police received 453 reports of child sexual exploitation in 2016/17, up from 387 the year before.

On Monday (July 9), the force launched a campaign to raise awareness of County Lines drug networks, which often exploit children to deal narcotics in other parts of the country.

Despite some examples of good joint working, such as a multi-agency safeguarding hub, significant weaknesses were found in Dorset’s ability to look after children.

Agencies from health care to probation demonstrated different levels of preparedness to work together, with the local authority identified as a particular weakness.

Ofsted found partners regularly fail to consider the risks that County Lines pose to children, meaning they have little knowledge about the true scale of criminal exploitation in the county.

The force has therefore had to develop its single-agency response to protect children.

In one case where partners failed to adequately collaborate to protect a child, the force obtained a criminal behaviour order so it could work with the child itself.

However, the inspection highlighted that the current police-organised meeting with partners to tackle serious and organised crime – known as ‘Project Spotlight’ – does not consider County Lines offending.

Inspectors described this as a “missed opportunity”.

The letter claimed the force also does not always take a truly victim-focused approach to cases, leaving some exploited children at risk of prosecution.

Dorset’s local authority has recognised some of its poor practice and has begun working on improvements over the last six months.

Superintendent Caroline Naughton said: “County Lines gangs also target young people, women and vulnerable adults to deliver drugs and money between locations for them.

“Dorset Police knows that County Lines is not a problem that can be solved by police efforts alone. We will continue to work with our partner agencies and our communities to tackle the issue and send a clear message to County Lines gangs that they are not welcome in our community.”