'We are having to run to keep pace with new nasty ways of exploiting children'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Greater Manchester Police has promised to improve the way it tackles online exploitation of children after criticism from inspectors.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that the force has some 'good' child protection arrangements in place, but is 'poor' at investigating some types of online child exploitation.

Responding to the report, chief constable Stephen Watson said that GMP is committed to 'locking up bad people who prey upon the most vulnerable'.

But he admitted that the force does not have enough officers and staff who specialise in online exploitation. It comes after inspectors found 'missed opportunities' where the risk of children being sexually or criminally exploited is not assessed or investigated properly. READ MORE: Andy Burnham gives grooming gangs update as GMP says officers behind past failings WON'T be punished Inspectors criticised the force for not doing enough to identify suspects when children had been extorted to pay money after sharing indecent images of themselves.