Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the HMIC inspection of West Midlands police response on child protection, said:

“Everywhere across the country, not enough is being done to protect children from abuse. This HMIC report shows the West Midlands police leadership have made this a priority, but there are still serious problems over the extent of abuse, understanding of the problem and lack of other specialist support. And it shows there is a growing problem in the West Midlands and everywhere else about online child abuse which the police are struggling to investigate. That is why the Home Secretary needs to take urgent action to improve child protection.

“Theresa May cannot wait for the conclusions of the national child abuse inquiry to act - especially when the inquiry is still in such chaos. For too long the voices of children have gone unheard. More must be done to protect them.”