TWELVE little girls in Ipswich are today being targeted by child welfare experts who have pinpointed them as being at risk of ending up as sex workers in the future.
TWELVE little girls in Ipswich are today being targeted by child welfare experts who have pinpointed them as being at risk of ending up as sex workers in the future.
The shocking statistic is due to be published in a special report commissioned in the wake of December's red light killings.
Compiled by child welfare experts at Suffolk County Council's Children and Young People's Services department, the report follows detailed personal analysis of primary school children in Suffolk.
The staggering revelation comes on the day The Evening Star and Ipswich Borough Council re-launches the Somebody's Daughter memorial fund, created in the wake of the abduction and killings of five women.
The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Annette Nicholls and Paula Clennell were found in remote rural locations.
All had worked in the sex trade and all had drug habits.
The appeal's aim is to raise enough money to fund a safe house for those embroiled in the world of prostitution and substance misuse.
A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said the authority is already contributing to preventing potential sexual exploitation of children by addressing issues surrounding prostitution in school lessons.
While not addressing prostitution directly, issues around exploitative relationships and how to deal with them are to be discussed as part of the syllabus in personal, social and health education classes.
The spokesman said: “We are working with Ipswich Borough Council to target young people and make them aware of exploitative relationships.”
The county council report follows Ipswich Borough Council launching a draft street prostitution strategy in a bid to tackle the problem.
It is hoped that identifying youngsters from such an early age will allow county welfare bosses to tailor a support and security package for those most in danger.
Such an approach follows recommendations made in the Victoria Climbie and Every Child Matters reports, which set out to ensure necessary intervention takes place before children reach crisis point.
What do you think of the findings? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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