Wycombe’s top police chief wants to reassure residents that child sexual exploitation is “low and rare” in the district following the publication of a serious case review report today.

In 2013, after the two-year Operation Bullfinch investigation by Thames Valley Police, seven men were sentenced to 95 years’ imprisonment for offences including rape, trafficking and arranging or facilitating prostitution against six girls in Oxfordshire.

Since then, more men have been convicted of offences relating to Operation Bullfinch.

This morning, the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board published the report into child sexual exploitation (CSE) within Oxfordshire.

The report identified that, although changes have been made by Thames Valley Police since Operation Bullfinch, the exploitation could have been identified earlier and that errors were made.

Supt Ed McLean, Wycombe Local Policing Area commander, said that CSE is a priority for Thames Valley Police and that Wycombe is a “safe place”.

He said: “I would like to reassure the public that Wycombe remains a safe place and this type of crime is low and rare.

“However we are alive to the fact it can happen here – just as it can anywhere in the country.

“CSE is a priority for Thames Valley Police and we are investing more resources than ever before. Every one of my police officers has been trained to identify and support those at risk of CSE.

“We work very closely with our partners in social services, education, health and the charity sector and a lot of really positive work around reducing the risk to youngsters and preventing and disrupting CSE is ongoing.

“There is further information about CSE, the warning signs the public can look out for and support service at the Thames Valley Police website.”

Officers have visited eight secondary schools to discuss CSE with 1,000 students and literature has been distributed to parents of about 12,000 pupils.

Barnardo’s received funding from the force to go into nine schools in Wycombe to conduct CSE training with 2,523 students.

Police officers have also been working alongside hotels and B&Bs to explain how to spot signs of CSE.

Anyone with concerns about offences relating to child sexual exploitation is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on the 24 hour non-emergency number 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.