Tracey Watkinson, Peter Hornby
Strengthening Policing & Partnerships for group-based CSE
Workshop Abstract
The Hydrant Programme, and the National Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Taskforce, is advancing policing’s understanding and response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation. Using analysis and research, we can explore how data-driven insights, multi-agency collaboration, and survivor-informed approaches are shaping national strategies to safeguard children and pursue perpetrators.
Emphasising the importance of partnership engagement, the session will share findings on the scale and nature of group-based offending, and outline the Taskforce’s strategic objectives: Prepare, Protect, Prevent, Pursue, and Prosecute.
About the Speakers
Tracey Watkinson is a safeguarding specialist with a master’s in Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding. With experience as a Chartered Legal Executive and multi-agency safeguarding manager, she supports partners in meeting statutory duties and advancing national safeguarding strategies.
As theme lead for the Child Sexual Exploitation Taskforce, Tracey enhances the policing response to group-based child exploitation and abuse. She promotes partnership engagement and acts as a conduit between agencies and policing bodies, facilitating complex referrals and championing a coordinated, survivor-centred approach throughout the safeguarding.
Prior to joining Hydrant, Peter Hornby worked in the Safeguarding Command at Norfolk Constabulary where he managed the MASH, RSO, FGM, FM and IIOC teams and previously managed the Child Abuse, Adult Rape and Rape Investigations Teams.
Prior to that he was Director of Intelligence. Pete retired from being acareer detective after completing 30 years’ of service with Norfolk Constabulary. He is a trained PIP3 SIO but is also a qualified child death SIO, kidnap and extortion SIO, Authorising Officer and is review and debriefed process trained.