A JOINT investigation by police and social services exposed numerous inappropriate relationships across age groups in the county.

The probe over the past year did not  uncover any evidence of organised child sexual exploitation.

Sensitivities around the on-going investigation – carried out by police child protection officers and child safeguarding specialists from Herefordshire Council’s social services - limit the detail can be reported.

But the Hereford Times has learned of numerous individual “opportunistic and inappropriate” relationships so far uncovered and broken up between adult men, under-age girls and at least one under age boy.

Though there is some evidence of youngsters being “shared”, nothing was found to suggest organised exploitation on a scale seen in other parts of country.

In many cases the youngsters had been identified and groomed or coerced through teenage social networks centered primarily in Hereford.

Some of the youngsters are now on child protection plans.

The  investigation informs an awareness campaign launched this week by the county’s child safeguarding board.

Say Something if you See Something encourages the recognition and reporting of suspected exploitative relationships.

Related posters and information packs will roll out countywide.

Tomorrow (Wed) various agencies across the county are also expected to post “Helping Hands” pledges to show their support. 

Helping Hands encourages the writing of personal pledges on the hands to demonstrate support with the pledges being posted on social media usimng the hashtag #HelpingHands.

Suspected exploitative relationships can be reported to the county’s Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01432 260800 or the police on 0300 333 3000 or contactus@westmercia.pnn.police.uk.