Council leaders have urged victims of child sexual exploitation to come forward following a national report on grooming gangs.

Cabinet members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council received a briefing on the local work being undertaken to tackle child abuse in the city.

This work includes safeguarding around child sexual exploitation (CSE) as well as child criminal exploitation (CCE), which can involve youngsters being coerced into working for county lines gangs.

The briefing followed recent publication of Baroness Casey's report on group-based CSE, which called for a new national inquiry into grooming gangs.

Baroness Casey found deep-rooted institutional failures that allowed CSE to continue, and specifically condemned organisations' reluctance to acknowledge the over-representation of Asian and Pakistani men as perpetrators due to the fear of being branded racist.

A petition calling for a Stoke-on-Trent inquiry into CSE and grooming gangs, started by former city MP Jonathan Gullis and signed by more than 1,800 people, is due to be debated by councillors.

Cabinet members said that the Casey report had to be a 'turning point' and that it is vital that victims have the confidence to come forward.

Cllr Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, said: "We've been waiting for the Casey report for some time. It's a shocking report, and there's a lot in there for us to think about our own behaviour in the past. The key thing for us is making sure children are safe now, but recognising that there's a lot of bad stuff happening.

"If there are women or men who have been exploited in the past, it's really important that they come forward, so we can make sure they get the help they need."

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: "This has to be a turning point whereby the good work that's going on is consolidated. We have to be alert to the changes in the challenge, particularly around social media and the increased sophistication of those who prey upon children.

"There's going to be a national inquiry, and if people who want to come forward for help or see justice done, this is the time to do that. We need to be confident in the city that we are absolutely as sharp as we can be going forward, and we address the problems of the past."

The cabinet heard from Deputy Chief Constable Rebecca Riggs from Staffordshire Police, the national policing lead for child protection, as well as the council's own officers.

They explained the multi-agency approach to safeguarding, which involves data-sharing between organisations, prevention work and early intervention, as well as criminal proceedings against perpetrators.

In March a total of 169 children in Stoke-on-Trent were being considered by the multi-agency child exploitation panel, most of whom are classed as 'medium' risk. CCE cases make up the majority of this caseload – 129 cases compared to 18 CSE and 22 cases involving both – with boys accounting for around two thirds of the cohort.

The report to cabinet says partners are aware 'of the need to continue to be vigilant to ensure that the signs of exploitation in girls are not being missed'.

DCC Riggs explained that at a national level, 800 CSE cases where there had been 'no further action' were being reviewed.

She added: "I've been able to work with partners on a local scale, and how we work together around the national announcements that have come from government, and how we as a collective work together to make sure that our children here in Staffordshire are protected and kept safe."

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams told the meeting that safeguarding children was 'absolutely crucial' for him and Staffordshire Police, and noted the recruitment of 100 more public protection officers.

Cllr Ashworth asked for a further report in six months' time on the local implementation of the Casey report's recommendations.