VULNERABLE children and teenagers on their way home from school are being targeted for sexual exploitation on the streets of Halesowen.

The shocking revelations have been made by the police who are launching a poster campaign in a desperate bid to raise awareness and encourage the public to report suspicious activity.

Disturbing claims have been made of youngsters being offered inducements for them to perform – or others to perform on them – sexual acts.Halesowen’s neighbourhood police teams are focussing their attention on the bus station and town centre after school times.

Sergeant Liz Benson confirmed they are investigating reports of children and teenagers being involved in exploitative situations.

Inducements can include drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gifts, money, food and accommodation. Sgt Benson said: “The neighbourhood team are looking at gathering intelligence and looking for youths to come forward and tell the team of any issues they are experiencing or have knowledge of.”

Director of children’s charity Barnardo’s in the Midlands, Hugh Sherriffe, welcomed the police action in bringing the issue to the public. He said: “Child sexual exploitation comes in many guises but what is clear is that it is happening across all areas and in all communities.

We welcome this action from the police in drawing the public’s attention to the issue.”

Barnado’s supported around 2,000 sexually exploited youngsters across the UK last year, which Mr Sherriffe believes is “just the tip of the iceberg”.

He said: “As a country we have made significant strides forward in recognising child sexual exploitation for what it is – callous abuse, plain and simple.

“We must also all do more to teach ourselves and our children about how to spot the signs.”

Police posters will be put up in the Cornbow Shopping Centre and on the back of toilet doors. They will also be displayed in towns across the region.

about predators in town centre West Midlands Police is handling 75 criminal investigations into child sexual exploitation forcewide and a further 210 cases are being looked at where there are concerns such exploitation is involved.

These investigations include sexual offences committed online, at home and face-to-face.

A force spokesman said: “West Midlands Police is strongly committed to protecting children and young people from abuse and sexual exploitation and is working extensively with partners to raise awareness of the issue and also to actively stop those who target vulnerable people.“ Meanwhile, officers are also investigating a sexual assault on an 18-year-old man in the shopping centre toilets at 2.25pm last Friday.

Police are hunting a white European man, aged 40 to 50, 5ft 7in, slim, of small build, with light brown hair, clean shaven, wearing black glasses, blue shirt, dark trousers and shoes.

Anyone with information about the assault, or sexual exploitation of children, should call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.