TOP police chiefs have announced plans for an in-depth probe into how the force can make sure it does as much as it can to protect children against sexual abuse.

A 'health check' report on North Yorkshire Police's practices and procedures was due to be presented to chiefs yesterday.

It has been compiled in the wake of recent revelations of systemic sexual exploitation of children in Rotherham, Rochdale and elsewhere.

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said she considered the report to be necessary to "reassure the public" that all sufficient steps were being taken.

She said: "Child sexual exploitation is quite rightly a top priority for both myself and North Yorkshire Police, and on behalf of the public I need to be fully reassured this is being dealt with appropriately.

"I have asked the Chief Constable for a comprehensive update on our plans to tackle this issue, how we are working with partners, and most importantly, what we are doing to safeguard children.”

In the recent past, both the Commissioner and Chief Constable have put more resources into the police's 'protecting vulnerable persons (PVP) units' and the implementation of a 'sexual assault referral centre', 'PVP safeguarding hub', and additional specialist victim care services.

Police say that a formal "terms of reference" has been agreed, and the report "will seek to summarise strengths and areas for improvement against recognised national best practice".

Chief Constable Dave Jones said: "Child sexual exploitation is clearly a very worrying issue that must remain a top priority for the police service and partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable young people from this despicable abuse.

"Whilst various recent inspections show North Yorkshire Police and its safeguarding partners have effective practice and procedures, I fully support the additional scrutiny instigated by the Commissioner.

"Not only will it help to ensure offenders are brought to justice and victims receive the best possible service from the police, it is an important measure to reassure residents that the authorities in North Yorkshire and York are working effectively to tackle child sexual exploitation."

Meanwhile, Skipton MP Julian Smith, who launched a campaign to to find out the extent of child abuse in Craven in the wake of recent revelations, said he had been in contact with the area's schools and had also written to Nick Frost, chairman of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board.

He said: "I welcome the police looking at this issue in depth and their desire to be more effective in dealing with it. It is vital that they look into all parts of our community and don't hold back from investigating all parts of it. Police need to hear from victims too if we are to tackle this very serious problem."