An inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that five of the nine cases of CSE examined were assessed as inadequate.
"Signs of risk were missed, lines of enquiries were either not followed up or took too long, and there were failures to respond to information and intelligence and to pursue offenders," the report states.
In one case of concern, staff from a children's home called police with concerns about texts on the phone of an 11-year-old girl.
An officer attended and found that the texts were of a sexual nature from an older man.
But rather than taking steps to identify the man and putting measures in place to protect the girl, inspectors found there was "little activity" on the case for two months. Police then failed to attend a multi-agency meeting to discuss protective measures.
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