Cambridgeshire Police have said they are ‘working hard’ to tackle child sexual and criminal exploitation after raising concerns about the Lincoln Road area of Peterborough.

Concerns were raised by the force after plans to turn a Peterborough hotel into a care home for vulnerable were submitted.

Opposing the proposals, Jules Hanrahan, Cambridgeshire Police’s designing out crime officer, stated: “Lincoln Road continues to experience significant issues around Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), both of which are deeply troubling.

“We’ve also seen incidents of ‘cuckooing’— where the homes of vulnerable individuals are targeted by offenders—as well as a range of drug and weapon offences in the area.”

Police raised concerns of a 'significant' issue with child exploitation in Lincoln Road

placeholder image — Police raised concerns of a 'significant' issue with child exploitation in Lincoln Road

Care home plans for Peterborough hotel withdrawn after police concerns

The plans were withdrawn following the submissions by the police.

The Peterborough Telegraph asked Cambridgeshire Police about what issues were being seen in the area – and what was being done to tackle the problems.

In response, Chief Inspector Steve Ashton said: "We're working hard to tackle exploitation in all its forms in Peterborough.

"Types of exploitation are wide-ranging, including young people being coerced into involvement in county lines drug dealing.

"Tackling drug dealing is a priority for both our Central and Eastern Neighbourhood Policing Teams as we aim to make our communities even safer.

"We will continue to do all we can to combat this issue, through various tactics such as high visibility and plain clothed patrols and stops searches in hotspot areas.

"We have recently successfully applied for closure orders on businesses believed to be linked to drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, as well as seeing multiple arrests, charges and convictions for drug-related offences.

"Whenever we receive information concerning exploitation, we work hard to identify perpetrators, investigate thoroughly and safeguard victims. "Working with partners, including the local authority, is key to tackling exploitation. "In central Peterborough the community-focussed Alliance project has seen collaboration with residents, businesses, charities, partner agencies and police to protect local people and help bring improvements to the area. "We will continue to do all we can to protect vulnerable people in Peterborough and we would encourage members of the public to report any concerns to us."

Anyone with information about child exploitation should contact police, either online at https://www.cambs.police.uk/ or by calling 101. Call 999 if a crime is taking place.