A KEIGHLEY councillor has attacked Bradford Council's response to the sexual exploitation of children.

Cllr Julie Adams, of Keighley Town Council, said in her personal view the district council is not doing enough to stamp out this type of crime.

But Bradford Council's deputy leader, Cllr Val Slater, responded: "The council and its partners are absolutely committed to bringing the perpetrators of any Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) crimes to justice, no matter what their background.

"Police operations supported by the council go back to 2003, and include the successful prosecution of the perpetrators in the Autumn case [in Keighley] in 2015."

Cllr Adams, of Fell Lane and Westburn Ward, said: "I attended the Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting and was astounded to listen to some comments, especially those of Cllr Slater whose input consisted of repeating what everyone else had said.

"As to whether there's a need for a public inquiry – that would not be costly to Bradford Council – I'd encourage everyone to read the Serious Case Review [into the sexual grooming of a girl in Keighley] which can be found at bradford-scb.org.uk

"This review makes heartbreaking reading and highlights the need for a public inquiry, as this poor girl was failed by almost every agency.

"I'd like to express my personal disappointment, as a resident of Keighley, that Cllr Slater and her colleagues never take up the invitation to attend at least one Keighley Town Council full meeting.

"I thought those in City Hall worked for the whole district. As such they should earn their money, attend, and listen to what residents want."

Cllr Slater said: "As portfolio holder at the committee meeting I was summarising the discussions and giving examples that had not been mentioned by other people.

"I've never been invited to attend a meeting of Keighley Town Council, so I can't attend something which I've not been invited to.

"As far as a public inquiry is concerned, our response to CSE has been subject to external review, scrutiny from both Children’s and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny committees, and all the area committees in the district.

"The view of Bradford Council and the Safeguarding Children Board is that a public enquiry wouldn't help us understand more about this issue or how to tackle it.

"The partnership of agencies who work together around CSE in Bradford want to ensure all resource possible is put into preventing this pernicious crime.

"A public inquiry would potentially divert resources and attention from work undertaken on the frontline.

"However, the decision to hold an inquiry will not be taken by Bradford, but by the independent national inquiry which is fully appraised of what Bradford is doing."

* A scheme to tackle CSE has seen staff at takeaways, hotels and taxi firms throughout Keighley and Bradford trained to become "eyes and ears" to help authorities spot warning signs.

The Nightwatch scheme has seen thousands of people who work in the night time economy trained to notice signs of child sex abuse.

Run by Barnardo's, Nightwatch offers support to staff in places that have “increased potential risk of children falling victim to grooming and sexual offending”.

Since it was established, Nightwatch has helped deliver training to over 3,400 taxi drivers, snooker lounges, shisha bars and takeaways. It is now delivering training to staff at hotels and B&Bs.