MORE resources will be dedicated towards tackling child abuse, Thames Valley Police has revealed.
The force’s budget for 2014-2015 shows that there will be an extra 10 police officers working in the child abuse investigation unit across the Thames Valley along with 11 temporary staff and 4.5 new staff posts.
Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: “Despite the fact that the budget I presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner includes over £12m worth of cuts, I have committed additional resources to child protection issues.
“The workload in our child abuse units continues to rise and it is essential that when victims come forward, we are able to listen sensitively to them and investigate any crimes robustly.”
Following Operation Bullfinch, earlier this year seven men were found guilty of grooming, drugging, raping and prostituting vulnerable children in Oxford.
Thames Valley Police could not break down the figures to show how many staff would be based in Oxfordshire.
The budget was presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld on Wednesday and will be subject to further discussion with Mr Stansfeld and the police and crime panel.
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