UNIMAGINABLE crimes committed against children - which prompted a huge investigation into the widespread failure of protection services - will not be forgotten about despite projections suggesting Barnsley’s victim rates have climbed in the last four years.

Monday marked the decade anniversary since the publication of the so-called ‘Jay Report’, which found at least 1,400 underage girls - some as young as 11 - had been abused between 1997 and 2013.

Author, Professor Alexis Jay, described the abuse as ‘appalling’, finding children had been raped by multiple attackers, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted and beaten.

In just over a third of cases, the victims were previously known to social services because of child protection and neglect issues.

Police bosses have used the abuse scandal set-up as a model in Barnsley after projections showed cases in the town had jumped in recent years.

Projections, following a Freedom of Information request submitted to the police force, show there could be 320 cases of the crime last year in Barnsley.

It’s a 237 per cent increase from 2020 when 95 cases were recorded.

The figures have risen year-on-year since that date, with 136 cases in 2021 and 188 in 2022.

If the statistics ring true when they are published, Barnsley will have 104 victims per 100,000 people - the highest in South Yorkshire.

However, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard - whose role doubles up as Police and Crime Commissioner - said ‘no complacency’ can set in.

He added: “The Jay Report detailed horrific, almost unimaginable crimes carried out against children.

“The report includes a recital of those many, repeated failures of organisations to check themselves and each other, to properly place the needs of our communities above the need to protect themselves.

“Time and again, despite very clear warnings, the failure of institutions to act left vulnerable children and families at the mercy of violent and dangerous people.

“All the evidence says we are in a different and better place now but there can be absolutely no complacency.

“It is incumbent on all of us in positions of power across South Yorkshire to continue to acknowledge that failure and to continue our shared efforts not just to restore those institutions but to restore our community’s trust in their intentions and their actions.

“Ten years on from Alexis Jay’s report, the journey along the road to restoring that trust will carry on in earnest.

“Those crimes should never have been allowed to happen here in South Yorkshire, but we must not, will not and cannot forget they did.”

The findings led to the resignation of Rotherham Council leader Roger Stone, followed by ex-crime commissioner Shaun Wright, who had been responsible for the council’s children’s services from 2005 to 2010.

Major reforms across the county then took place, which saw South Yorkshire Police installing dedicated teams in each of its four districts to combat the crime, which now sees survivors guiding officers.

A police statement said: “The expansion and uplift of resources to create additional child exploitation teams in Barnsley and Doncaster has provided greater capacity to ensure a consistent service is provided to protect children.

“The new teams have been developed based around the HMICFRS-commended Rotherham partnership model and have been driving engagement and awareness with regard to the risk of child exploitation.

“Staff within the new teams have been developing the local and regional understanding, which intelligence will create a better understanding of the risk posed by child sexual exploitation.

“The force has observed an increase in cyber-enabled offending.

“In line with the national picture, internet use as an offending method now accounts for over 60 per cent of all reported offences.

“Further training and awareness sessions are being developed for professionals and the public around online safety and young people.

“We have a dedicated exploitation team in each of our four districts - Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield - and officers in these teams are specialists in supporting victims and investigating such crimes.

“We also work with partners such as local councils, support agencies and charities to ensure we continue to develop our knowledge, identify vulnerable children, and offer the best possible support to those affected.

“Exploitation of children, in all of its forms, is absolutely abhorrent, and tackling it continues to be a high priority for South Yorkshire Police.”